NEW ORLEANS — Defense and Morris Wright have been important components of Xavier University of Louisiana's recent men's basketball success, and they were again Monday in a 56-45 victory against Edward Waters.
Wright scored 20 points, and the Gold Rush, ranked 19th in NAIA Division I, allowed less than 50 points to a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponent for the second consecutive game. It's the first time in 20 years that XU recorded back-to-back sub-50s in the GCAC.
It was the seventh consecutive victory for Xavier (18-6, 7-1), its longest streak since winning nine straight from Jan. 10-Feb. 7, 2011.
"I thought our halfcourt defense in the first half was the best 20 minutes we've had all season," XU head coach Dannton Jackson said. "We were really engaged."
Xavier led 33-22 at halftime and made 9-of-10 free throws in the final 5:28 — 5-of-5 by Wright — after the Tigers (12-10, 2-6) cut the margin to 45-42. Xavier limited Edward Waters to one point in the final four minutes, a free throw with nine seconds remaining.
"Mo Wright came through at the end with some big plays," Jackson said.
Wright, Xavier's only double-figure scorer, made 3-of-5 3-pointers and had five rebounds, three assists and four steals. It was Wright's 19th double-figure scoring game this season and fifth 20-point game, both team-leading totals.
Sydney Coleman scored nine points and Troy Salvant eight for Xavier, which completed a two-game regular-season sweep of the Tigers.
Dontay Sheppard scored 15 points and Nathaniel Hill 11 for Edward Waters.
The Gold Rush are a half-game behind Talladega, which was idle, in the GCAC. Xavier's seven straight victories all occurred in conference after a 93-78 loss at Talladega in the GCAC opener Jan. 5. Since that loss the Gold Rush have allowed 54.6 points per game, and Wright averaged a team-best 15.1 points.
Talladega, ranked fourth nationally, will visit Xavier next Monday. But next for the Gold Rush will be a 7:30 p.m. Thursday home game against Voorhees, a team Xavier beat by 14 on the road last week.
"This is a journey for our team," said Jackson, who is trying to guide Xavier to the NAIA's national tournament for the fifth consecutive year. "A long journey."
Box score
Facebook photosEd Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment