NEW ORLEANS — Jarryn Cleaves scored 18 points Friday, and Xavier University of Lousiana benefitted from 38 Grambling turnovers in a 64-55 victory over the Lady Tigers in the final game of the Xavier Classic at The Barn.
     Xavier and Langston both finished 2-0 in the two-day, six-team event. Grambling and Texas College were 0-2, and Dillard and Robert Morris (Chicago) finished 1-1.
     Erica Turnbull scored 13 points for the Gold Nuggets (6-2), and Tiffany Norris had 10 points and seven rebounds. It was Xavier's second victory in eight days against an NCAA Division I opponent and its fifth in six attempts during the last three seasons. Xavier is an NAIA Division I member.
     Kourtney Sherman scored 18 points for the second consecutive day for Grambling (1-4) but was the Lady Tigers' only double-figure scorer. Gabrielle Fleming, Danishia Lee and Kristen Harper scored eight points apiece.
     Grambling's 25 first-half turnovers helped Xavier take a 34-25 lead at the break. The Nuggets led the final 34 minutes and twice led by 14 in the second half.
     Grambling outshot the Nuggets 40 to 33 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 42-31, but Xavier committed 17 fewer turnovers and outscored Grambling 28-10 from the line.
     Xavier has won 55 of its last 57 games at The Barn. Grambling has a four-game losing streak.
     Xavier will play its next game at 7 p.m. Thursday against College of the Bahamas at The Barn. Grambling will host Chicago State at 7 p.m. Tuesday.