NEW ORLEANS — Morris Wright scored 21 points Friday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to an 85-72 men's basketball victory against Clark Atlanta.
     Wright, a senior point guard, reached 20 points for the third consecutive game and the fifth time in the last six games.
     The Gold Rush (7-2), ranked 19th in NAIA Division I, defeated an NCAA Division II opponent for the fourth time in as many tries this season. Xavier, a longtime elite NAIA program, is 23-7 against NCAA D2s during Dannton Jackson's 13 seasons as coach.
     Xavier's Gary Smith matched his career high of 16 points, and RJ Daniels scored 11 to reach double figures for the third consecutive game.
     James Arnold scored 16 points, Lawrence Freeman 15 and Tim Sanders 10 for Clark Atlanta (0-5).
     Smith's basket in the seventh minute put Xavier ahead to stay, 13-11. The Gold Rush led 45-31 at halftime and maintained a double-digit lead for all but one second of the final period.
     The Gold Rush shot 50 percent from the floor and reached 50 percent for the fifth consecutive home game. Xavier outrebounded the Panthers by 16, a season best, and improved to 7-0 at home.
     Xavier will play Mobile (6-0) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at XU's Convocation Center. Mobile gave Xavier its first loss of the season Nov. 17.