Owls Battle Owls in American Athletic Clash HOUSTON (Interstat) — A pivotal American Athletic Conference matchup between two teams sharing the same nickname will unfold Wednesday when the Florida Atlantic Owls visit the Rice Owls at Tudor Fieldhouse. Both teams enter the 8 p.m. EST tipoff looking to halt recent slides. Florida Atlantic (14-10, 4-7 AAC) has lost four consecutive games, including a heartbreaking 78-76 defeat to Tulsa on Feb. 4. Rice (10-14, 4-7) has dropped three of its last four, most recently falling 71-65 at UAB on Sunday. The game features a contrast in recent standout performers. Florida Atlantic will lean on guard Niccolo Moretti, who is coming off a career-high 25-point, 5-assist effort in the loss to Tulsa. Moretti’s scoring surge provides a bright spot for an FAU squad that has struggled defensively during its losing streak, allowing an average of 83.7 points in the four defeats. Rice will counter with forward Jimmy Oladokun, who nearly posted a double-double with 9 points and 12 rebounds against UAB. His presence on the glass will be critical against an FAU team that features multiple scoring threats, including Isaiah Elohim (15 points vs. Tulsa) and Josiah Parker (12 points vs. Tulsa). The home team has won the last two meetings in the series. Rice aims to protect its home court again and climb back to .500 in conference play, while Florida Atlantic seeks a road victory to stabilize its season before a key homestand. Beyond the avian nickname rivalry, the game carries weight in the crowded middle of the AAC standings, where both teams are currently tied in the loss column. A win would provide momentum for either squad heading into the final weeks of the regular season. Florida Atlantic visits South Florida on Feb. 15. Rice hosts East Carolina on Feb. 14.