Gold Rush defense steps up late to rally past Wiley

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Chris Iles had 15 points and six assists Saturday, and NAIA No. 21 Xavier University of Louisiana rallied late for a 64-60 men's basketball victory against Wiley.
The Gold Rush (4-0) have won 20 consecutive home games against non-conference opponents. The Wildcats (2-2) dropped their second in a row.

Wiley had its biggest second-half lead, 58-54, after Freddie Haynes' basket with 7:41 remaining. But Xavier outscored the Wildcats 10-2 thereafter and took the lead for good at 60-58 when Iles passed to Anthony Simmons for a basket with 1:10 remaining. Simmons, who finished with 11 points, scored Xavier's first three baskets of the closing run.

Kevin Miller and Cordell Hadnot scored 10 points apiece for Xavier, and Hadnot grabbed nine rebounds.

Richard Simon had 15 points, six assists and three steals for Wiley, and Kenny La Guerre had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Miller blocked two shots and made two free throws in the final 30 seconds to give Xavier a 62-58 lead. After Simon scored for Wiley with eight-tenths of a second remaining, Iles made two more free throws for the final points.

Iles scored 10 points to lead Xavier to a 34-30 halftime advantage.

Xavier outshot the Wildcats 44.2 to 37.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 36-33. The Gold Rush have won 12 straight at home against Wiley since 1986.

The teams will meet again next Saturday at Wiley, making it the second straight year that the Gold Rush and Wildcats meet in consecutive games.


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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