Crusaders' last-minute comeback defeats Gold Rush

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Jeremiah Dunnings' 5-point play with five seconds remaining lifted William Carey to a 72-71 victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in a matchup of ranked NAIA Division I men's basketball teams Tuesday.

The Crusaders (11-1), ranked 10th, completed a two-game season sweep of the Gold Rush (11-3), ranked 16th.

Dunnings, who finished with 17 points, helped William Carey erase a five-point deficit in the final minute. He scored and was fouled by Wanto Joseph on William Carey's final possession to cut Xavier's lead to 71-69. XU coach Dannton Jackson was assessed a technical foul after Dunnings' basket. Dunnings made three consecutive free throws — the last two as a result of the technical — to give the Crusaders their only lead of the second half.

Xavier then committed a turnover on the final possession.

Denzell Erves scored a season-high 22 points for Xavier and grabbed 10 rebounds in his eighth double-double of the season and 15th of his career. Nick Haywood had season highs of 19 points and six 3-pointers, and Joseph had 12 points and seven assists.

Daron Bell scored 16 points, Guy Payne 14 and Kelvin Nixon 10 for William Carey.

The Gold Rush rallied from an 18-9 deficit to lead 36-33 at halftime. Erves' basket with 11:09 remaining gave Xavier its largest lead, 60-47.

William Carey outshot Xavier 49 to 43.8 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Gold Rush 39-29. The Crusaders made 19-of-27 free throws, and the Rush made 7-of-12 to set season lows for free throws attempted, made and accuracy.

The loss was Xavier's first of the season in six road games and its second consecutive one-point decision. The Rush defeated Voorhees 56-55 Saturday.

The Gold Rush will break for Christmas, then resume the schedule at 2 p.m. on New Year's Eve at Belhaven in Jackson, Miss. The next XU men's home game will start at 5 p.m. on Jan. 12 against Tougaloo in the new Convocation Center.

Box score

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