Willy Ivery plunged in from 4-yards out, Rice's Darik Dillard was stuffed on 4th-and-1 on the ensuing drive, and North Texas escaped Rice with a 42-35 win in 2OT on Saturday night.
Jeffrey Wilson led North Texas (2-2, 1-0 Conference USA) with 157 yards rushing and three touchdowns and Mason Fine added 224 yards through the air with a touchdown.
Dillard sent the game into overtime with a 1-yard run that capped an 8-play, 74-yard drive with 2:34 left. After each team exchanged touchdowns in the first overtime period, Ivery ran in his second TD of the game for a 42-35 Mean Green lead. Rice drove the ball to the North Texas 16 on its final possession before Dillard was stopped for a loss to end the game.
Tyler Stehling threw for 232 yards and ran for 92 with a passing touchdown to lead Rice (0-4, 0-2). Dillard had added 67 yards and two scores.
