PDF Box Score

     BATON ROUGE, La. — Xavier University of Louisiana erased most of a 24-point second-half deficit before falling 63-56 Tuesday to Southern in a men's basketball exhibition game for both teams.
     The Jaguars of NCAA Division I led 39-15 when Steffon Wiley scored a layup with 16:50 remaining. But the Gold Rush, a longtime NAIA member, rallied and got as close as 61-56 on Olumide Olafioye's basket with 28 seconds remaining. Then Southern's Chris Davis closed the scoring with a pair of free throws with 13 seconds remaining.
     Davis scored 18 points, nine in each half, and had eight rebounds and five steals. Teammate Barry Honoré had nine points and nine rebounds.
     Olafioye and Devin Andrew scored 10 points apiece for the Gold Rush, and Kelechi Okoroha scored nine. Dannie Woods grabbed nine rebounds, eight in the second half.
     The Gold Rush outshot the Jaguars 40 to 35.1 percent from the floor, but Southern had a 48-35 rebound advantage. The Gold Rush struggled at the line, making 14-of-29 free throws. Southern was a tad better; it made 18-of-30.
     The Gold Rush, already 3-0 in countable games, will play Wiley at 7 p.m. Friday at The Barn. Southern will open its regular season at 7:30 p.m. Friday at home against Tougaloo.