The Gold Rush (23-7) will play fourth-seeded Philander Smith, a 75-67 winner against SUNO, in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Saturday. Philander Smith is the defending champion.
Xavier Rogers and Jarvis Thibodeaux scored 12 points apiece for Xavier, and Anthony Goode had 11. Thibodeaux grabbed nine rebounds and Olivier Siewe eight.
Thibodeaux, a sophomore who averaged 2.3 points and 1.9 rebounds during the regular season, reached career bests in those categories. It was the first time this season he led his team in rebounding.
Cameron Lewis, the GCAC Player of the Year, made five 3-pointers and scored 28 points for the Bulldogs (10-23), who were seeded eighth. Richmond Jackson scored 18 points, and Chris Pollard scored 13.
Xavier, winning for the fifth time in a row overall and the 11th time in its last 12 home games, led 48-28 at halftime and built the lead to 24 early in the second half. Thibodeaux's two free throws at 11:48 of the first half gave Xavier a 21-10 lead, and the Gold Rush led by double digits for the remainder of the game.
The Gold Rush outshot the Bulldogs 55.6 to 47.3 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 40-20. Xavier dominated at the line, making a season-high 35-of-47 free throws to Fisk's 14-of-25.
It was the 13th time this season that Xavier shot 50 percent or better from the floor and the fourth time in the last five games.
Second-seeded Talladega and third-seeded Edward Waters will meet in the other men's semifinal at 5 p.m. Saturday at Xavier. Talladega defeated Voorhees 92-73, and Edward Waters beat Tougaloo 73-68.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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