Box Score NEW ORLEANS — Freshman guard
Lucas Martin-Julien scored a career-high-tying 16 points Tuesday to lead NAIA No. 13 Xavier University of Louisiana in a 78-64 men's basketball victory against Belhaven.
The Gold Rush (21-7) won for the third consecutive time and never lost the lead after scoring the first four points.
Martin-Julien also had five rebounds, three assists and tied a career high with three steals. He did not miss a shot in scoring 10 second-half points.
Morris Wright had 15 points — he made 8-of-8 free throws — and a career-best seven rebounds for Xavier.
Anthony Goode had 13 points and five rebounds, and
Xavier Rogers had 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Jordan Bedford made five 3-pointers, scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Blazers (14-13). Dycus Juste scored 10 points.
Goode and Wright scored 11 points apiece to lead Xavier to a 39-24 halftime lead. It was the third consecutive game that the Gold Rush led by double digits at halftime — the first time that's happened since the start of the 2003-04 season. Two
Wesley Pluviose-Philip free throws with 3:31 remaining gave Xavier its largest lead, 69-42.
The Gold Rush outshot the Blazers 51.1 to 30 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 43-24. It was the third consecutive game that Xavier shot better than 50 percent and the 11th time this season that the Gold Rush produced a double-digit rebound margin.
It also was the third straight game that the Gold Rush shot 84 percent or better from the line. Xavier made 26-of-29 free throws — all 17 in the second half — to finish at a season-high 89.7 percent.
Belhaven made 11 3-pointers, five in the final 3½ minutes.
Xavier is 30-1 at home all-time against Belhaven and leads the series 47-13. The Gold Rush won 64-55 in overtime at Belhaven on Dec. 30.
Xavier will close the regular season with a 5 p.m. Saturday game at Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and city rival Dillard. Xavier will play host to GCAC tournaments for men and women next week.
