HOUSTON, Texas – Head coach Mike Price has harped on turnovers all season, specifically stating that there is no way a team can win when they are handing out presents to the opponent.

Such was the case Saturday afternoon in Houston as Nick Lamaison threw two interceptions, the second more significant of the two coming with six minutes left in the game as Rice (3-6, 2-4 C-USA) went on to win, 41-37, at Rice Stadium.

“We didn’t play very good,” head coach Mike Price said. “We didn’t play very good in the fourth quarter, which we wanted to do, and played poorly. We didn’t play well enough to win. I’m very, very disappointed with the game today.”

With just over six minutes to go, Lamaison’s second interception led to a Rice score that almost put the game out of reach for UTEP (4-5, 1-4 C-USA), 41-31, with 2:58 left in the game. Lamaison and the Miners charged down the field and scored a touchdown on a 17-yard pass to freshman Jordan Leslie.

The usually reliable Dakota Warren missed the point after attempt and the Miners failed to recover the ball on the insuring on-sides kick. Rice ran the clock out for the win.

“We had a couple deep passes, and that was in our game plan for this week, but we needed to make a couple more plays and have long drives in critical situations; we didn’t do that,” Lamaison said of the offensive performance.

The Miners’ offense was not fruitful Saturday as Lamaison threw for 294 yards for the second straight game ran for less than 100 yards, accumulating on 98 against Rice.

Defensively, the Miners struggled all game as Rice quarterback Nick Fanuzzi finished the game with 405 yards passing on 43 attempts while the Rice running corps ran for 222 yards.

“We weren’t trusting each other and handling our assignments,” defensive lineman Greg Watkins said. “We need to refocus and work hard. We need to get the fundamentals right and begin trusting in each other.”

Fanuzzi was the spark the Owls needed after a drubbing last week agains cross-town rivals Houston; he effectively ran the offense in his first start of the season.

“Fanuzzi made some great plays and he threw the ball on the money; they made some great plays even when we put pressure on them,” Price said. “Their defense hustled around. (Justin Allen) was all over the field.”

Things seemed to fall apart from the beginning, as it appeared the game was headed for an old Texas shoot-out with both teams scoring a combined eight times in the first half. A 74-yard pass from Lamaison to Edwards got the game started for the Miners early in the game. The score was the longest pass on the season, eclipsing Wenrick’s 66-yard scoring pass earlier this season against Tulane.

Rice bounced back and got on the board with a Turner Petersen 44-yard TD, which was the longest of his career. Rice scored again when they capitalized on a Lamaison interception and with a 7-yard run from Jeremy Eddington. After that, the scoring barrage began.

The UTEP defense had trouble corralling the Owls as Rice used an effective underneath pass to several receivers that were short in nature, but resulted in long gains because of the run after the catch. It was a continual problem and Price knew it.

“I don’t know what we were doing,” Price said. “Our guys were letting them catch the ball and then tried to chase them down. Rice did a hell of a job getting their offense running.”

Perhaps what was even more devastating than anything was the fact that Price has now lost for the last six years when traveling to Houston to either play Rice or the University of Houston.

“I’m kinda disgusted with myself right now,” Price said of the losses. “Six years in a row and not having a victory? At Houston or here? Six years in a row and can’t get a win? That’s disgusting to me.”

The Miners will have three more opportunities to earn the needed two wins to become bowl eligible, but there was little optimism after the game.

“I don’t know (where we go from here),” Price continued. “I’m not in a real good mood right now … we have a chance; we are playing at home. It used to be a real advantage for us, and it would be an advantage for us if we would win at home, but we haven’t won at home either like we are supposed to. So, I don’t see them, the advantages right now. I’m a little pessimistic.”

UTEP returns to the Sun Bowl next weekend with a matchup against East Carolina.

Chris Avila can be reached at show@minerillustrated.com or you can follow him on Twitter via his handle @chrisavila_01.