HAMMOND, La. — Xavier University of Louisiana played solidly for the first 25 minutes before Southeastern Louisiana pulled away for a 79-61 men's basketball exhibition victory Wednesday.
     Morris Wright scored 18 points, and Lucas Martin-Julien had 11 points and four steals for the Gold Rush, ranked 19th in NAIA Division I. Wesley Pluviose-Philip and Gary Smith scored six points apiece.
     Mike Hawkins scored 22 points for the Lions. James Currington had 15 points and 17 rebounds, and Zay Jackson scored 14.
     Xavier, in its only exhibition of the season, led for nearly 7 1/2 minutes against its NCAA Division I opponent. Wright's 3-pointer at 8:06 of the first half gave Xavier its biggest lead, 21-15. Chris Ward's basket with 15:21 remaining gave Xavier its final lead, 38-36.
     Currington's layup tied the score at 38 with 15:10 remaining, then Joshua Filmore followed with consecutive 3-pointers to put the Lions ahead to stay, 44-38. Jackson's layup at 9:19 capped a 21-2 run and gave SLU a 57-40 lead.
     Southeastern led 30-28 at halftime.
     Xavier dominated at the free-throw line, making 30-of-39 to the Lions' 15-of-27. Wright made all 10 of his free throws. Southeastern outshot Xavier 46.8 to 32.6 percent from the floor and had a 45-30 rebound advantage.
     It was the second meeting of the Gold Rush and Lions. Southeastern won 76-71 in a regular-season game during the 1977-78 season.
     Xavier will play another NCAA member, Spring Hill of Division II, at 4 p.m. Saturday at XU's Convocation Center. Southeastern will open its regular season Nov. 13 at TCU.