NATCHITOCHES, La. -- Connor Cashaw scored a career-high 27 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead Rice and its new coach, Scott Pera, to their first victory this season, 87-65 over Northwestern State on Friday night.
Cashaw, a junior, was 9-of-16 from the floor, including 4 of 8 on 3-pointers, while grabbing nine rebounds. Sophomore Ako Adams added career highs of 16 points and nine assists and A.J. Lapray, a graduate transfer from Pepperdine, scored a career-high 18 points off the bench.
Rice (1-2) shot just 36 percent overall and 31 percent from the arc in its two losses, but heated up to 57 percent from the floor, including 11 of 22 from the arc, against the Demons (0-4).