UCF 60, Rice 53

2/16/2008 5:28 PM

HOUSTON (AP) -Jermaine Taylor scored 22 points to help Central Florida to a 60-53 win over Rice on Saturday, keeping the Owls winless in conference play.

UCF led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but the Owls made it a four-point game with less than two minutes to play. Taylor responded with a pair of free throws and a dunk on the break following a Kenrick Zondervan steal to put the Knights comfortably ahead.

Taylor was 7-of-11 from the field, including two 3-pointers. Dave Noel scored 13 points for the Knights (13-11, 6-4 Conference USA) and added a team-high eight boards and seven assists.

Rice outscored Central Florida 33-29 in the second half. But the Owls couldn't overcome hot shooting by the Knights, who shot 57 percent from the field in the second half.

Rice (3-21, 0-11) was led by Patrick Britton with 12 points. Suleiman Braimoh added 11 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.