LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Christopher Journet scored 15 of his season-high 24 points during a first-half surge Monday that powered Philander Smith to a 74-56 men's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.
     The Gold Rush (7-12, 3-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) lost for the first time in five games.
     The Panthers (9-9, 3-2) scored 27 consecutive points to erase XULA's only lead, 8-7. Journet was 6-of-7 from the floor during the run, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Braylon Spicer's trey at 9:31 made it 34-8. Seth Jackson's basket nearly a minute later ended the Gold Rush scoring drought. The Panthers led 42-27 at halftime.
     XULA never got closer than 13 points in the final 32 minutes. Innocent Kukulu's 3-pointer with 16:24 remaining made it 47-34, but three minutes later the Panthers pulled away with a 14-3 run.
     Journet also had game highs of eight rebounds and four steals. Christopher Ward scored 14 points for Philander Smith, and JaCarre Crockett and Broderick Brandon had nine apiece.
     Donovan Armstrong scored 14 points — he was 5-of-7 from the floor — and had three steals for the Gold Rush. Mike Williams scored nine points, and Kukulu and Elex Carter had eight apiece. Armstrong and Kukulu each made a pair of 3-pointers.
     Philander Smith outshot XULA 51.9 to 47.7 percent from the floor and had a 9-4 advantage in made 3-pointers.
     The Gold Rush will play NAIA No. 14 Dillard at 5 p.m. Saturday at XULA's Convocation Center in the Crosstown Classic. Tickets for the doubleheader are available through a secure online website at XULAtix.com.