Sunday, November 9, 2014

Strong first half helps Xavier Rush beat NCAA D2 opponent

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XAVIER UNIVERSITY GOLD RUSH vs. MILES COLLEGE GOLDEN BEARS

NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Goode, one of four from Xavier University of Louisiana in doubles figures, scored 13 points Saturday in a 68-59 men's basketball victory against Miles.

The Gold Rush (4-1), ranked 13th in the NAIA, bounced back from a one-point home loss on Thursday, led for nearly 39 minutes and held a 20-point halftime lead.

Miles, an NCAA Division II member, counted the game as an exhibition. But Xavier counted it as a regular-season game.

Goode, a senior guard, led Xavier in scoring for the fourth time in five games and extended his streak of double-figure scoring games to 15. He was 3-of-4 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the line in 25 minutes.

Sydney Coleman and Jacques Johnson scored 12 points apiece, both season highs, for Xavier, and Morris Wright scored 10. Charles Savoy did not miss a shot in 12 minutes and scored a season-best eight points.

Albert Peterson scored 21 points for the Golden Bears, who won 76-74 Friday at another Gulf Coast Athletic Conference member, SUNO. Maiscei Greer and Patrick Jackson scored 11 points apiece, and Demetrius Caldwell had 10.

Coleman scored three consecutive baskets during a 15-1 run which gave the Gold Rush a 17-4 lead in the first 10 minutes. Goode's 3-pointer made it 24-6 at 7:15, and Johnson's basket at 1:37 gave Xavier a 36-16 halftime lead.

Peterson and Caldwell combined for all the points in a 13-0 Miles run which opened the second half and cut Xavier's lead to 36-29 with 15:55 remaining. But the Gold Rush scored the next six points and maintained a double-digit lead until the final 2 1/2 minutes.

After Peterson's fourth 3-pointer made it 64-59 with 23 seconds remaining, Wright and Gary Smith each made a pair of free throws to close the scoring.

Xavier outshot the Golden Bears 47.9 to 36.4 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 35-22. Both teams made 20 free throws, with Xavier making their final 16 attempts to finish 20-of-21. The Rush committed 20 turnovers for the second consecutive game, and Miles had 19.

Xavier's next game will start at 7 p.m. Tuesday against city rival Loyola at the Convocation Center. It will be Warm Hands, Warm Hearts Night -- fans can donate scarves, hats and gloves in exchange for free admission to the game.

NOTES: The victory was Xavier's first against Miles, which beat the Rush twice in the late 1960s . . . Xavier is 19-6 against NCAA Division II opponents during Dannton Jackson's 12 seasons as head coach . . . Jackson's teams are 83-8 all-time in regular-season non-conference home games . . . The Rush have outrebounded all five opponents this season, three by double digits.

Box score

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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