NEW ORLEANS — Senior guard Wanto Joseph scored 17 points Saturday to lead NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana in an 80-66 men's basketball victory against Morehouse in the first-ever game at XU's Convocation Center.
     Denzell Erves had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Gold Rush (1-0). Xavier Rogers scored 16 points, including five 3-pointers, and Nick Haywood scored 10.
     Shawn Allen and Malcolm Frank scored 13 points apiece for Morehouse, and Darrius Williams and Jonathan Tassin scored 10 each. The Maroon Tigers, an NCAA Division II member, counted the game as an exhibition. But Xavier counted it as a regular-season game.
     Xavier made 9-of-15 3-pointers to build a 45-27 halftime lead. Joseph and Rogers scored 13 points apiece in the half and made a combined 6-of-9 3-pointers. The XU men took their biggest lead, 72-37, on an Erves 3-point play with 7:46 remaining.
     The Convocation Center, which seats 3,937 for basketball, had its blessing and ribbon-cutting prior to the game. The facility replaces The Barn, a gymnasium which opened in 1937 and seats 1,300. Attendance for the game was approximately 2,000.
     Xavier has won 17 consecutive openers, 14 by double digits.