NEW ORLEANS — Omar Haugabook was Troy's postseason star, too.

The Sun Belt player of the year threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead Troy to its first bowl victory, 41-17 over Rice on Friday night in the New Orleans Bowl.

It was only the second bowl appearance for the Trojans (8-5), who moved up to Division I-A in 2002. Troy earned the bowl bid with its first Sun Belt title.

Haugabook, the unanimous MVP of the game, completed 14 of 28 for 217 yards. He also picked up 92 of Troy's 148 yards.

"It was a real good game for me," Haugabook said. "At any given time we can put up points real fast."

Rice (7-6), coming off its first winning season since 1993, and making its first bowl appearance since 1961, was seeking its first postseason victory since 1954. The Conference USA representative was favored going into the game, but could not cope with the Trojans' defense.

Rice's Joel Armstrong, pressured all night, was intercepted five times and sacked four times. He completed 35 of 54 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown.

Rice receiver Jarett Dillard kept his touchdown streak alive. He caught a 1-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter to stretch the streak to 15 games, dating to last season. His 13-game touchdown streak this season set an NCAA record, breaking the mark of 12 set by Randy Moss in 1997 and matched by Pitt's Larry Fitzgerald in 2003.