City rival Dillard stuns XU Gold Rush in GCAC quarterfinals

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Don't let the calendar confuse you. March Madness was alive and well Thursday, the final day of February, at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.

And for the Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball team -- the GCAC's regular-season co-champion for the second straight year and No. 13 in the NAIA Division I coaches poll -- it was maddening.

City rival Dillard, the tournament's No. 8 seed and beaten decisively by the Gold Rush twice during the regular season, eliminated top-seeded Xavier. The Blue Devils overcame a seven-point deficit in the final 3½ minutes and won 59-56 at Barton Coliseum.

Dillard defeated Xavier after eight consecutive losses -- including 54-34 on Jan. 26 and 70-46 on Saturday -- and won for the first time since 2009 in this series, which dates to the late 1940s.

"We took Dillard lightly," XU coach Dannton Jackson said. "Dillard hit shots, had a game plan and played very well. We did not play well and did not follow the game plan."

Jarrain Jenkins, named GCAC Freshman of the Year on Wednesday, led Dillard (4-20) with 23 points and nine rebounds. Tyrone Williams had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Jordan Kilson had 14 points -- including 9-of-10 free throws -- six rebounds, five assists and four steals.

All-GCAC guard Wanto Joseph had 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists, four steals and no turnovers. But Joseph was an uncharacteristic 6-of-20 from the floor on a day the Gold Rush (24-7) shot a season-worst 29.6 percent.

Xavier's All-GCAC forwards, Denzell Erves and Anthony Simmons, combined for 14 points, nine rebounds and six of their team's 15 turnovers. Simmons missed 6-of-8 free throws.

Joseph's steal and layup with 3:37 remaining capped a 16-5 run and gave the Gold Rush a 52-47 advantage, but Dillard regained its composure and outscored Xavier 12-4 the rest of the way. Williams' 14-footer on the left baseline with 56 seconds remaining put Dillard ahead to stay, 54-52.

Xavier missed 1-of-5 3-pointers in the final 1:37, and Nick Haywood's 25-footer from the right side at the buzzer prevented Xavier from moving to overtime for the fourth time this season.

Haywood finished with 16 points -- his highest total since Dec. 18 -- and made 3-of-7 3-pointers. But his teammates were a collective 1-of-11 from behind the arc.

Dillard, which shot 39.7 percent from the floor against Xavier in the regular season, shot 50 percent Thursday. The Bleu Devils used just six players; Williams, Kilson and Norvel Shelby played all 40 minutes.

The Gold Rush loss followed Fisk's 64-52 women's upset of Xavier, where another No. 8 seed outplayed and prevailed over a No. 1.

Xavier, which hasn't won this tournament since 1996, will wait for an at-large berth to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship at Kansas City, Mo. The 32-team field will be announced Wednesday, and the tournament will begin March 13.

"We're right there on the bubble probably," Jackson said. "But I think we'll get in because of our body of work the entire season. One game in one tournament doesn't reflect on your season."

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETIC
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA