4-point play gives Panthers 61-60 victory against Rush

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Teviin Morris' 4-point play with two seconds remaining Saturday lifted Philander Smith to a 61-60 men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 17 Xavier University of Louisiana.

RJ Daniels fouled Morris as he made a 3-pointer to tie the score at 60. Morris then made a free throw, and Xavier's Morris Wright missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Morris scored 22 points — he made all nine of his free throws — for the Panthers (16-6, 6-3 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference). Aquill Baynard had 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Sydney Coleman scored a career-high 23 points, 16 in the second half, for the Gold Rush (19-8, 8-3), and Wright scored 16. Wesley Pluviose-Philip grabbed a season-high-tying nine rebounds.

Xavier trailed 35-30 at halftime and 48-38 with 13:05 remaining, but the Gold Rush rallied to lead 60-57 on Wright's two free throws with 18 seconds remaining.

Xavier produced a season-best 10 steals and outshot the Panthers 38.6 to 31.4 percent from the floor. Philander Smith made seven 3-pointers, four more than Xavier.

For the second straight game, Xavier was denied its 20th victory of the season. The loss dropped the Gold Rush into third place in the GCAC. Xavier will visit the new second-place team, Tougaloo, at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Xavier's next home game will start at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 against Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at XU's Convocation Center.

Box score

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA https://twitter.com/xulagold
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