Xavier Gold Rush take a free ride to rally past Tuskegee

NEW ORLEANS -- Wanto Joseph made all 10 of his free throws in the final four minutes Saturday to help NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana rally for a 78-70 victory against Tuskegee in the final game of the Big Easy Classic at XU's Convocation Center.

The Gold Rush (4-0), the only team to win both games in this event, outscored Tuskegee 29-9 in the final 12:04 after trailing 61-49. Xavier made 20-of-22 free throws during the comeback and 33-of-43 in the game.

Joseph, who scored one point in the first half, finished with 15 points, eight assists, four rebounds and two steals. Denzell Erves scored 13 points, Nick Haywood 12, Xavier Rogers 11 and Renard Smith 10 for the Gold Rush.

Javier McKinney scored 22 points, including 5-of-7 3-pointers, for Tuskegee, which was 1-1 in this event but counted both games as exhibitions. Calvin Thomas had 17 points, five assists, two blocked shots and three steals, and David Alexander scored 10 points.

The teams were tied at 36 at halftime.

Xavier, an NAIA member, has two victories this season against NCAA Division II opponents. The other was against Morehouse in Xavier's first game in its new home arena one week ago.

Xavier is 4-0 for the ninth time in 10 seasons.

Jarvis Christian made nine first-half 3-pointers in a 94-87 victory against Spring Hill in the first game Saturday.

More on the Xavier game will be posted online at http://www.xula.edu/athletics/news/2012/1110b.html



By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS
GCACSPORTS