NEW ORLEANS — Junior guard Virgil Davison scored 12 of his 23 points in the final 11 minutes to help Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 72-59 men's basketball victory against Miles College.The Gold Rush (4-0), a longtime NAIA power, defeated an NCAA Division II team for the second time in three days.
Davison, who made four 3-pointers, scored the most points by a XULA player this season. Freshman Rayshawn Mart had 14 points and eight rebounds, and sophomore Mike Williams — in his season debut — scored 11.
Carl Garcia, with 15 points, was the lone double-figure scorer for Miles. Aron Stewart grabbed nine rebounds to help the Golden Bears win the boards 41-33. But Sheldon Wright, who averaged 10.4 points and made 60 3-pointers last season, went 0-of-3 from long range and finished with three points.
XULA led 29-19 at halftime after an 18-6 run in the final 7 1/2 minutes of the half. The largest Gold Rush lead was 52-37 after a Williams basket with 8:35 remaining.
XULA outshot Miles 38.6 to 34.8 percent from the floor and was plus-9 in turnovers. The Gold Rush committed a season-low 11 and gained 20.
XULA won its home opener for the 22nd consecutive season and is considerably ahead of schedule from last season. Victory No. 4 of 2016-17 did not occur until Jan. 7.
Miles counted the game as an exhibition. It will open its regular season Saturday.
The Gold Rush will visit NAIA No. 2 LSU-Alexandria at 7 p.m. Wednesday. XULA will play two in a row on the road before playing Huston-Tillotson for homecoming at 1 p.m. Nov. 18.
BOX SCORE
Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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