Sunday, December 15, 2013

Gold Rush get split with Loyola; Jackson ties record

Coach Dannton Jackson
234-101 Career Record
NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana led for the final 35 minutes Saturday, and Dannton Jackson tied the school record for career victories in a 55-44 men's basketball decision against city rival Loyola at The Den.

Morris Wright scored 12 points, and Sydney Coleman had 10 points and nine rebounds to lead the XU men (8-3) to their third consecutive victory. The Gold Rush, ranked 25th in NAIA Division I, avenged a 74-70 home loss to the Wolf Pack (3-6) from Nov. 19.

Jackson, in his 11th season as head coach, is 234-101. He tied his predecessor, Dale Valdery, who was 234-136 from 1990-2002. Jackson can break the record Tuesday in a 7 p.m. game at Spring Hill.

Xavier trailed for only 19 seconds and took the lead for good in the fifth minute on Coleman's basket. Xavier led 30-23 at halftime and held its biggest lead, 40-24, after Wright's basket with 15:43 remaining.

"I thought we had really good intensity," Jackson said. "Our tempo was really good. Our guys put good pressure on Loyola, extended the defense, and I think we wore down Loyola over the course of the game."

Also contributing for the Rush were Xavier Rogers with nine points -- he made both XU 3-pointers -- and six rebounds. Redshirt freshman guard Lucas Martin-Julien, in his collegiate debut, had eight points and four rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.

"Lucas gave us a lot of energy," Jackson said. "He's a good addition to our rotation."

Xavier outshot Loyola 50 to 27 percent from the floor -- 52.4 to 15.8 percent in the second half -- and outrebounded the Wolf Pack 38-29. Loyola was more productive at the line -- making 21-of-36 free throws to Xavier's 5-of-18 -- but the Rush had a 24-10 advantage in made field goals.

McCall Tomeny had 12 points and six rebounds for Loyola, and Kyle Simmons scored nine.

It was the second straight game that Xavier allowed less than 50 points -- the
first time that's happened since January 2012. The Rush limited Loyola to its fewest points in the series, which Xavier leads 31-8.

Box score

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

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