Gold Rush hang on to defeat Ambassadors 89-85

 NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana was successful on 14 consecutive field-goal attempts Thursday, including its last 12 of the first half, and needed every one of them to earn an 89-85 men's basketball victory against first-time opponent Oakwood.
     
The Gold Rush (10-8) will play host to Edward Waters in a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game at 5 p.m. Saturday. It'll be a doubleheader, with the Gold Nuggets and Lady Tigers tipping off at 3 p.m.
     
XULA shot 84.2 percent from the floor in the first half — 16 makes in 19 attempts — to build a 48-29 lead at the break, then extended the advantage to 62-36 before the Ambassadors (6-10) produced a 49-27 run in the final 14 minutes.
     
Sophomores Galen Smith, Rayshawn Mart and Ed Carter scored 14 points apiece for the Gold Rush. It was a sensational night for Smith, who had career bests in points, assists (6) and steals (3). He also grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and was 6-of-8 from the floor.
     
Carter was similarly proficient. He was 5-of-7 from the floor and had six rebounds, five assists and three steals.
     
Talik Talton scored 27 points, 19 in the second half, for Oakwood, the third-ranked team in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, and Edmen Stewart scored a season-high-tying 20. The Ambassadors shot 49.1 percent from the floor, 61.5 percent in the second half.
     
XULA began its lengthy can't-miss shooting when Carter made made a 2-pointer at 10:38, and Anfernee King followed with another at 10:11. The streak increased to 14 in a row when Smith and Donovan Armstrong opened the second half with baskets, then ended when Mart missed a 3 with 17:42 remaining.
     
XULA finished at a season-high 61.2 percent from the floor (30-of-49), its best percentage since hitting 66.7 percent on Dec. 1, 2016, at home against Paul Quinn. The Gold Rush reached 50 percent for the third time in the last four games and the sixth time this season.
     
Talton led Oakwood's second-half rally by making 7-of-8 from the floor and 5-of-7 free throws.
     
The teams will meet in two weeks in Huntsville, Ala.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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