MIAMI GARDENS, Florida -- Kevin Hincapie scored a career-high-tying 25 points Wednesday, and St. Thomas (Fla.) rallied in the final five minutes for a 70-60 men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 21 Xavier University of Louisiana in the Miami Gardens Classic.The Bobcats (8-6), an NAIA Division II member, have won seven straight. The Gold Rush (7-4) have dropped two in a row.
Jamaan Kenner's 3-pointer with 5:12 remaining gave Xavier a 57-54 lead, but Hincapie and David Nesbitt scored six points apiece in the Bobcats' closing 16-3 burst. Hincapie's basket with 4:32 remaining put St. Thomas ahead to stay, 58-57.
Nesbitt scored 13 points and Kodamus Llongby 10 for St. Thomas, which avenged a 69-59 loss at Xavier from Nov. 11.
Cordell Hadnot and Chris Iles scored 11 points apiace for Xavier, and Hadnot grabbed nine rebounds.
Hincapie scored 13 first-half points to give the Bobcats a 31-28 lead at intermission. They led 42-35 after Hincapie's basket with 15:23 remaining, but Iles and Renard Smith made 3-pointers during an 11-0 run which gave the Gold Rush a 46-42 lead with 12:35 to play.
St. Thomas committed a season-low eight turnovers and outshot Xavier 43.1 to 36 percent from the floor. The Gold Rush committed 11 turnovers, also a season low. Xavier outscored St. Thomas 33-7 from the line in their November meeting, but this time the Bobcats had a 19-18 advantage. St. Thomas made 10 free throws in the final five minutes.
It was Xavier's first game since a triple-overtime loss Dec. 17 at city rival Loyola.Xavier will play Florida Memorial at 5 p.m. EST Thursday in its second and final game of this event. Florida Memorial (4-8) lost 89-88 Wednesday to Palm Beach Atlantic and has dropped six in a row.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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