UTEP breaks 19-game road losing streak with 72-64 win over Rice

HOUSTON, Texas -- Souley Boum scored a career-high 27 points as UTEP ended their 19-game road losing streak with a 72-64 win over Rice on Thursday night.

The Miners victory over the Owls came despite lacking some bench strength with the loss of Efe Odigie, who coach Rodney Terry said didn't make the bus to Houston.

The two teams were neck and neck throughout much of the game, with UTEP only up by a lone bucket, 36-34, at halftime. It remained tight with the Miners holding just a one-point lead 58-57 with about 3:45 left in the game.

But then UTEP went on a six-point run to pull away, with five of those in the stretch coming from Daryl Edwards, who was the Miners' second-highest scorer of the night with 22.

UTEP is now 3-4 in Conference USA play while Rice's conference record fell to 1-7.