Provo, UT -- (Sports Network) - Cory Pflieger scored a team-best 17 points, shooting 3-of-4 behind the three-point line, to help the Rice Owls to an 81-76 win over the Cal Poly Mustangs as part of the 2008 Basketball Travelers Invitational at the Marriott Center.

Pflieger added five rebounds and five assists for the Owls (1-1) while Rodney Foster and Connor Frizzelle tacked on 16 and 14 points, respectively.

The Mustangs (0-2) were paced by Lorenzo Keeler who tallied a game-high 20 points, Titus Shelton contributed 15 points and Chaz Thomas 11 before fouling out.

Both teams shot better than 51 percent from the field in the first half, but because Cal Poly converted only 5-of-10 at the free-throw line it allowed Rice to post a 36-33 advantage at the break.

In the second half the Owls knocked down 7-of-11 behind the three-point line as well as 14-of-18 at the charity stripe to secure the five-point victory.

Rice finished up the contest 11-of-19 from three-point range and won the battle of the boards, 39-25, to help overcome 17 turnovers.