13th-ranked Gold Rush go wire-to-wire to defeat Belhaven

NEW ORLEANS -- Freshman guard Lucas Martin-Julien scored a career-high-tying 16 points Tuesday to lead NAIA No. 13 Xavier University of Louisiana in a 78-64 men's basketball victory against Belhaven.

The Gold Rush (21-7) won for the third consecutive time and never lost the lead after scoring the first four points.

Martin-Julien also had five rebounds, three assists and tied a career high with three steals. He did not miss a shot in scoring 10 second-half points.

Morris Wright had 15 points -- he made 8-of-8 free throws -- and a career-best seven rebounds for Xavier. Anthony Goode had 13 points and five rebounds, and Xavier Rogers had 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Jordan Bedford made five 3-pointers, scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Blazers (14-13). Dycus Juste scored 10 points.

Goode and Wright scored 11 points apiece to lead Xavier to a 39-24 halftime lead. It was the third consecutive game that the Gold Rush led by double digits at halftime -- the first time that's happened since the start of the 2003-04 season. Two Wesley Pluviose-Philip free throws with 3:31 remaining gave Xavier its largest lead, 69-42.

The Gold Rush outshot the Blazers 51.1 to 30 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 43-24. It was the third consecutive game that Xavier shot better than 50 percent and the 11th time this season that the Gold Rush produced a double-digit rebound margin.

It also was the third straight game that the Gold Rush shot 84 percent or better from the line. Xavier made 26-of-29 free throws -- all 17 in the second half -- to finish at a season-high 89.7 percent.

Belhaven made 11 3-pointers, five in the final 3½ minutes.

Xavier is 30-1 at home all-time against Belhaven and leads the series 47-13. The Gold Rush won 64-55 in overtime at Belhaven on Dec. 30.

Xavier will close the regular season with a 5 p.m. Saturday game at Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and city rival Dillard. Xavier will play host to GCAC tournaments for men and women next week.


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