HOUSTON – The Celts of the University of St. Thomas played one more tuneup game before the start of Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play, falling 103-70 Thursday in an exhibition game at NCAA Division I Rice.

Nathan Thormaehlen (SR/Katy, Texas) and Austin Arnold (FR/Katy, Texas) scored eight points apiece to lead the Celts. Thormaehlen pulled in six rebounds, while Arnold knocked down two of his five 3-point attempts.

UST's Zack Golaszewski (FR/The Woodlands, Texas) chipped in seven points for the Celts, while Joshua Sanchez (FR/McAllen, Texas), Paul Taulton (SR/Pearland, Texas), and Freddie Ricks scored six appoints apiece.

The host Owls scored the first eight points of the game and never looked back. Rice shot 53 percent (38 of 72) from the floor, while the Celts shot 37 percent (27 of 73) from the field.

The loss was only the second setback of the season for the Celts, and both came in exhibitions to Division I opponents. The Celts are still undefeated with a 6-0 record in countable games this season.

UST opens SCAC play Friday when the Celts visit the University of Dallas for men's-and-women's doubleheader. The men's game starts the action at 5:30 p.m.