AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Sheldon McClellan scored 14 points and
grabbed a game-high nine rebounds as Texas defeated Rice 57-41
Saturday in the Longhorns' final non-conference tuneup before
starting Big 12 competition.



Julien Lewis added 12 points, and Jonathon Holmes had eight
boards as Texas (8-5) improved to 7-0 against the Owls under
head coach Rick Barnes.



Austin Ramljak scored 14 points for Rice (3-9), which plays at
Harvard on Jan. 5 and begins Conference USA competition Jan. 9
against Southern Mississippi.



The Owls established an early 19-13 advantage, but Texas came
back to tie the score at 22-22 about four minutes before
halftime. The Longhorns briefly moved ahead, but Ramljak hit a
jumper to send the teams into the break tied 26-26.



Texas used a late 12-1 run to pull away, capped by a 3-pointer
from McClellan with 2:10 to play that made it 53-39.



The Longhorns play Baylor on Jan. 5.