18th-ranked Rush rally late to defeat Voorhees 72-70

XU men's basketball vs. Voorhees — at Xavier University Convocation Center

Photos by Yamlak Tsega

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana outscored Voorhees 6-0 in the final 68 seconds to rally for a 72-70 men's basketball victory Thursday.

The Gold Rush (19-6, 8-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference), ranked 18th in NAIA Division I, have an eight-game winning streak.

Anthony Goode's two free throws with 31 seconds remaining put Xavier ahead to stay, 71-70. The Tigers (9-12, 2-6) committed three turnovers in the final 43 seconds, including an offensive foul with eight-tenths of a second remaining.

Sydney Coleman scored 18 points, Morris Wright 16 and Wesley Pluviose-Philip 10 for Xavier.

Dezmond Lewis made five 3-pointers and scored 32 points for Voorhees. Denzel Bolden scored 12 points.

Voorhees led 31-27 at halftime and 59-51 after Jerrod Brown's basket with 6:22 remaining. For the game, the Tigers outshot Xavier 52.3 to 50 percent from the floor.

Xavier will play Talladega, the GCAC leader and the NAIA's third-ranked team, at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director   
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