NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana scored 54 1/2 points, its most ever, to win the 2018-19 Thomas Howell Cup, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference's all-sports award.The GCAC announced the results Tuesday. XULA won the Howell Cup for the third consecutive year and the eighth time in the last nine years.
The point total was the largest by a GCAC member since Mobile's 56 1/2 in 2007-08. XULA's winning margin — 13 1/2 points over Edward Waters, the runner-up with 41 — was the conference's largest since XULA won by 14 points in 2012-13.
"Winning the Thomas Howell Cup is the result of many people dedicated to our mission to build champions in the classroom, in athletic competition, in the community and in life," said Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs / Director of Athletics & Recreation Jason Horn. "Our student-athletes, coaches and staff remain strongly committed to building and maintaining a winning culture. Congratulations to our department — congratulations to Team Gold."
The Thomas Howell Cup, named for the GCAC's longtime commissioner, is awarded annually to the school with the most points based on order of finish in various sports. XULA was boosted by GCAC championships in men's cross country, women's cross country, women's volleyball (regular season and tournament), women's basketball and women's outdoor track and field. It finished second in men's outdoor track and field and tied for fourth place in men's basketball.
Although XULA won GCAC volleyball regular-season and tournament championships for the eighth consecutive year, the university was credited with all-sports points only for its regular-season standing. The GCAC also applied that method in men's and women's basketball.
Dillard was third with 34 points. Philander Smith and Talladega tied for fourth with 33 points apiece. Tougaloo finished sixth with 30 points, followed by SUNO with 26 points and first-year member Rust with 11 1/2.
In addition to the conference titles, 8-of-9 XULA teams were represented in 2018-19 at NAIA National Championship events — volleyball, women's cross country, men's cross country, women's basketball, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's track and field (individual athletes) and women's track and field (individual athletes). Men's tennis was the NAIA national runner-up for the third time in four years; women's tennis reached the national semifinals for the second straight year and the fifth time in seven years; and women's track and field produced its highest-ever national finish, 23rd.
Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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