WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball rallied from an 11-point deficit before falling 64-62 to Concordia (Canada) Monday in the opening game of the Chuck Daly Classic at Keiser University.
     Leading the Gold Rush (3-10) were Chris Ward with a career-high-tying 14 points and Wesley Pluviose-Philip with a season-best 13. Donovan Armstrong scored 10 points to reach double figures for the fourth time in the last six games.
     XULA trailed 31-20 late in the first half before rallying to take a 1-point lead three times in the final nine minutes. Armstrong's basket with 4:53 remaining gave XULA its final lead, 55-54. Nicholas Noble's 3-pointer at 3:28 put the Stingers ahead to stay, 58-55.
     Armstrong and another freshman, Mike Williams, combined for XULA's final nine points. Williams made three free throws with 14 seconds remaining and missed a 3-pointer at the final buzzer.
     Noble scored 17 points and made 5-of-7 3-pointers for Concordia (11-8). Ken Beaulieu scored 15 points, and Ricardo Monge had 13.
     XULA outshot Concordia 52.1 to 45.7 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Stingers 31-28. Concordia made 8-of-20 3-pointers to XULA's 1-of-8 and 14-of-21 free throws to XULA's 11-of-24.
     The loss was XULA's third of the season by three or fewer points.
     XULA will play Keiser, ranked 23rd in NAIA Division II, at 7 p.m. EST Tuesday.