Box Score MOBILE, Ala. —
Wanto Joseph,
Anthony Simmons and
Denzell Erves produced double-doubles Friday for NAIA No. 16 Xavier University
of Louisiana in a 64-57 men's basketball victory against Martin Methodist in
the Spring Hill Classic.
The Gold Rush (10-2), playing for the first time since
the conclusion of semester exams earlier in the day, are 4-0 on the road this
season.
Joseph, the reigning Gulf Coast Athletic Conference
Player of the Week, and
Xavier Rogers led Xavier with 15 points apiece.
Joseph had a career-high 10 assists, nine in the first half. Simmons had 10
points and 10 rebounds, and Erves had 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Nick Haywood
made a season-high four 3-pointers and scored 13 points for Xavier, which
produced five double-figure scorers for the second time this season.
Marlon Williams scored 18 points, Jeremy Rodgers a
season-high 16 and Antonio Coleman 10 for Martin Methodist (6-7), which has
lost three in a row.
Coleman's two free throws at 12:38 of the first half
concluded a 16-0 run which gave the RedHawks an 18-7 advantage. Martin
Methodist took its biggest lead, 20-8, on Davie Champagnie's basket at 10:58.
Then Xavier scored 23 of the next 26 points — including Haywood's 4-point
play and Rogers' back-to-back 3-pointers — and took the lead for good in
the 16th minute. The Gold Rush led 33-28 at halftime. The final margin was
Xavier's largest of the second half.
Rogers scored in double figures in consecutive games
for the first time this season and scored his most points since the opener.
Simmons' double-double was his fifth of the season, all in the last seven
games, and 11th of his career. Erves' double-double was his seventh of the
season and 14th of his career. It was the first time since the start of the
2003-04 season that Xavier had three double-doubles in a game.
Xavier outshot the RedHawks 42 to 39.6 percent from the
floor and outrebounded them 34-30. Both teams committed 15 turnovers, but the
Gold Rush had a 24-13 advantage in points off turnovers. Xavier's eight made
3-pointers — its most since the opener — in 17 attempts.
On Saturday, Xavier will play Voorhees (9-6) at 3 p.m.,
and Martin Methodist will play Spring Hill at 5 p.m. to conclude this event.
Voorhees defeated Spring Hill 59-56 in Friday's second game.
