Rush beat 20th-ranked Panthers to remain atop GCAC

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- Anthony Goode scored 14 points and keyed a late first-half run which helped Xavier University of Louisiana earn an 83-78 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Philander Smith in a matchup of ranked NAIA teams.

The Gold Rush (18-5, 7-1), ranked 13th, won for the ninth time in 10 games and snapped the five-game win streak of the Panthers (16-6, 5-2), ranked 20th. Philander Smith had not lost at home since Nov. 12.

Xavier is the only GCAC team with one loss and holds a 1½-game lead over Philander Smith, Talladega and Edward Waters. Talladega lost 89-84 in overtime at Voorhees.

Sydney Coleman scored 13 points for Xavier, and Morris Wright and RJ Daniels scored 10 apiece.

D'Alvin Brown, with 19 points, was the Panthers' lone double-figure scorer. Philander Smith entered the game averaging 93 points and had five players averaging in double figures.

Xavier, led by Goode's six points, outscored Philander Smith 17-2 in the final five minutes of the first half to turn a 35-27 deficit into a 44-37 lead at halftime. The Panthers tied the score three times in the second half, but a Daniels 3-pointer with 13:27 remaining put the Gold Rush ahead to stay, 54-51.

Xavier led by 11 points twice in the final five minutes.

Aquill Baynard missed a 3-pointer which would have tied the score with six seconds remaining. Coleman grabbed the rebound, was fouled and made two free throws to clinch Xavier's fifth consecutive road victory.

It was the first time since 2009 that the Gold Rush won on the road against a ranked opponent. It was Xavier's second victory this season against a ranked team.

Xavier outshot the Panthers 52 to 41.7 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 35-25. All 10 Gold Rush players scored. Lucas Martin-Julien, Xavier Rogers and Olivier Siewe scored nine points apiece, and Martin-Julien grabbed a career-best nine rebounds.

Xavier had three second-half turnovers after committing 13 in the opening half.

Xavier and Philander Smith will meet again Feb. 17 at XU's Convocation Center. The next Gold Rush game will start at 5 p.m. Saturday at conference and city rival SUNO.

Box score

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