XU Gold Rush are 6-0 after overtime victory against Wiley

 

The 2012-13 Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball team.

(Click on Photo to Enlarge)

ROSTER 

COACHES

 

NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Simmons scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high-tying 13 rebounds Saturday to lead NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana to an 82-77 men's basketball victory in overtime against Wiley at the Convocation Center.

The Gold Rush are 6-0 for the fourth time in six seasons, including five victories on their first-year home court.

Simmons, a two-time All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference forward, recorded his first double-double of the season and the seventh of his career. Teammate Denzell Erves had his fourth double-double of the season -- 16 points and 11 rebounds -- the 11th of his career.

Wanto Joseph had 17 points, a career-high eight rebounds and five assists for Xavier, and Nick Haywood -- scoreless for the first 29 minutes -- finished with 11 points.

Karlos Gary scored 15 points for Wiley (4-1), and Tayler Jacobs had 12 points and nine assists.

The Wildcats spent just 18 seconds with the lead -- after Gary's 3-point play at 2:56 of overtime gave them a 75-73 lead. Xavier outscored Wiley 5-0 in the final 1:08, and Haywood passed to Erves for a basket with put Xavier ahead to stay, 79-77, with 35 seconds remaining.

Vanderis Christie's basket for Wiley with 52 seconds remaining tied the score at 72 and forced overtime.

Xavier, winning for the 13th consecutiove time at home, outshot Wiley 45.3 to 40.3 percent from the floor and had a 46-36 rebound advantage. It was more of the same for the Gold Rush and Wildcats; nine of their last 11 meetings have been decided by six points or fewer, including three overtime decisions. Xavier has defeated Wiley 13 consecutive times at home since 1986.

Xavier made 21-of-31 first-half free throws and finished 29-of-44. Wiley made 13-of-26 free throws.

Xavier will play William Carey at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Convocation Center.

Box score

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

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