Daniels scores career-high 18, but Gold Rush lose 63-62

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- Sophomore RJ Daniels scored a career-high 18 points for Xavier University of Louisiana, but the Gold Rush lost 63-62 at LeMoyne-Owen in men's basketball Saturday.

Daequan Mitchell-Fie's 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining gave the Magicians (1-2) the victory.

Morris Wright scored 16 points and Xavier Rogers 13 for the Gold Rush (5-3), ranked 19th in NAIA Division I, and Olivier Siewe and Wesley Pluviose-Philip grabbed eight rebounds apiece.

Marcel Hawkins scored 16 points for LeMoyne-Owen, an NCAA Division II member, and Jerry Hampton had 12 points, seven rebounds and six blocked shots.

Daniels scored 15 second-half points, 13 in the final 10½ minutes. His 3-pointer with 3:26 remaining gave Xavier a 57-55 advantage and its first lead in approximately 25 minutes. Daniels' basket at 1:45 gave the Gold Rush a 61-56 lead.

Baskets by the Magicians' Daquavion McCants and Nick McHenry -- the second on a fast break after Hampton blocked a shot -- cut Xavier's lead to 61-60 with a minute remaining. Siewe was fouled after two offensive rebounds and made 1-of-2 free throws with 25 seconds remaining, then LeMoyne-Owen regained the lead on its final possession.

Mitchell-Fie was fouled while making his winning 3-pointer. He missed the free throw and Siewe rebounded, then Wright missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

LeMoyne-Owen outshot Xavier 46.7 to 41.2 percent from the floor. Xavier committed a season-low 12 turnovers and had a 35-34 rebound advantage.

Daniels scored in double figures for the second straight game and the fourth time this season, one more than he did in 2012-13. Wright reached double figures for the fifth consecutive game and was 6-of-11 from the floor -- the seventh time in eight games he shot 50 percent or higher. Rogers made three of Xavier's season-high-tying seven 3-pointers, increased his streak of made free throws to 13 and reached double figures for the fifth time.

Xavier will play NAIA No. 10 William Carey (4-0) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at XU's Convocation Center.

Box score

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