MOBILE, Alabama -- Sophomore Wesley Pluviose-Philip's 3-point play with 19 seconds remaining Saturday lifted NAIA No. 22 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 52-51 men's basketball victory against Mobile.The Gold Rush (9-4) snapped a two-game losing streak and completed a two-game season sweep of the Rams (4-5).
Pluviose-Philip was fouled by Piers Carroll as he scored on a pass from Morris Wright. Pluviose-Philip then made the decisive free throw. Mobile missed a 2-pointer and committed a turnover in its two ensuing possessions.
Xavier, winning on the road for the third time in four games this season, outscored Mobile 6-1 in the final two minutes after Dominique Suggs' 3-pointer gave Mobile a 50-46 lead.
Sydney Coleman scored 14 points and Pluviose-Philip 10 for the Gold Rush. Pluviose-Philip reached double figures for the second time this season and the third time at Xavier. Jarvis Thibodeaux's eight rebounds and Wright's five assists were game highs.
Suggs scored 12 points, all in the second half, and Kenny Davison had 11 for the Rams, who have lost five of their last six games. Daouda Soumaoro, seeking his fourth consecutive double-double, had two points and six rebounds in 16 minutes.
Coleman did not start for the first time in nine games, but he scored 11 points to lead Xavier to a 28-20 halftime advantage. Then Mobile rallied by making six second-half 3-pointers, three by Suggs.
Mobile outshot Xavier 35.6 to 31.1 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Gold Rush 40-30. Xavier made 19-of-31 free throws, and Mobile made 12-of-24. The Gold Rush committed 15 turnovers but gained a season-best 22, 15 in the first half.
Xavier will play Faulkner at 7 p.m. Monday at XU's Convocation Center in the second game of a doubleheader. The women of Xavier and Faulkner will meet at 5 p.m.
NOTES: Xavier has won 11 straight against Mobile and 14 of the last 15 . . . It was the first time since Nov. 27, 2010, that the Gold Rush won with 24 or fewer second-half points . . . Xavier has won 21 of its last 30 games on opponents' courts dating to February 2012.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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