MEAC/SWAC SPORTS MAIN STREET™: SUNO is White-hot in overtime victory at Xavier

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

SUNO is White-hot in overtime victory at Xavier

NEW ORLEANS — SUNO's Devin White scored 25 points Tuesday and made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 43 seconds remaining in overtime in a 67-64 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 18 Xavier University of Louisiana at The Barn.

White, in his second game with the Knights (6-7, 2-1) after playing two seasons at NCAA Division I Northwestern State, also had 12 rebounds and blocked eight shots, one less than the record for a GCAC game. His 3-pointer with three seconds remaining in regulation tied the score at 56.

White scored 20 points, made 3-of-3 3-pointers and blocked six shots after halftime to help the Knights win two in a row for the first time this season. He had 28 points, nine rebounds and five blocks Saturday at Dillard.

SUNO never trailed in overtime and gave Xavier (10-5, 1-1) its third loss in its past 28 home games. SUNO is responsible for two of those losses, including a 55-54 decision this past season. The Knights also knocked Xavier out of first place in the GCAC; through 10 league games none of the eight teams is unbeaten.

Kevin Dukes and Clyde Moore scored 12 points apiece for SUNO. Dukes made his first three field-goal attempts in overtime, and Moore scored the game's final two points with 14 seconds remaining. From that point Xavier missed two shots and grabbed two rebounds but was unable to get a third shot on a frontcourt inbounds play with two-tenths of a second remaining.

Anthony Simmons scored 15 points for Xavier. Denzell Erves had 10 points and 11 rebounds — his first double-double since opening night — and Jamaan Kenner scored 10 points and made a season-best three 3-pointers in four attempts.

The Gold Rush led for approximately 36 minutes and held a 28-17 advantage after Kenner's 3-pointer at 4:41 of the first half. But Merlin Walker's 3-pointer and Moore's 3-point play helped SUNO close the gap to 31-28 by halftime.

Xavier shot better than 50 percent than from the floor in its previous two games but made 34.8 percent against SUNO, including 1-of-8 in overtime. Kenner's 3-pointer from the left corner tied the score at 62 at 2:29 of overtime, but the XU men missed two ensuing shots which would have given them the lead.

SUNO shot 41.8 percent from the floor and outrebounded Xavier 40-35. The Gold Rush committed a season-low eight turnovers and gained 15.

It was the third time in six games that Xavier played overtime.

The Gold Rush will continue a five-game home stand at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Edward Waters.