Sunday, January 26, 2014

Gold Rush defeat Dillard, regain first place in GCAC

NEW ORLEANS -- Morris Wright scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half Saturday to help NAIA No. 16 Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 62-54 men's basketball victory against Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at XU's Convocation Center.

The Gold Rush (16-5, 5-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) defeated the Bleu Devils (4-7, 0-5) for the 16th time in the last 18 meetings. Xavier leads the series 79-48.

Xavier leads the GCAC by a half-game over Talladega, Edward Waters and Philander Smith. Talladega began the day in first place but lost 90-89 at Philander Smith.

Wright was 3-of-3 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the line in the second half. He scored the final five points after Dillard reduced its 14-point deficit to three in the final two minutes.

Anthony Goode scored 14 points for Xavier and reached double figures for the fourth consecutive game. Wesley Pluviose-Philip had eight points and seven rebounds, and Sydney Coleman had seven points and nine rebounds.

Jarrain Jenkins had 10 points and seven rebounds for Dillard, which has dropped six straight, and Lance Theard scored nine.

Dillard scored the first two points but never led again. Xavier answered with three consecutive 3-pointers -- the first two by Xavier Rogers, the other by Goode -- in 93 seconds. Xavier led 28-21 at halftime and held its largest advantage, 44-30, after Goode's two free throws with 10:47 remaining.

Both teams shot 36 percent from the floor. Xavier dominated at the line, making its first 16 attempts of the second half and finishing 25-of-32 overall. Dillard made 10-of-15 free throws.

Xavier outrebounded Dillard 41-21. It was the eighth consecutive time and the 13th time in the last 14 meetings that the Gold Rush outrebounded the Bleu Devils.

The game attracted a Convocation Center-record crowd of 2,700. The teams drew 2,500 a year ago.

Xavier will conclude a six-game home stand with a 7 p.m. Tuesday game against Belhaven.

PHOTOS

Box score

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