NEW ORLEANS — Joseph Williams scored a career-high 16 points Saturday, and Xavier University of Louisiana held on for a 75-70 men's basketball victory against city rival Loyola at The Den.
     The Gold Rush (8-4) will play the University of the Virgin Islands at 5 p.m. Sunday and Rust at 7 p.m. Monday in the Xavier Classic at the Convocation Center. The event also will have women's games; XULA's Gold Nuggets will play Virgin Islands at 7 p.m. Sunday and NAIA No. 9 Lindsey Wilson at 5 p.m. Monday.
     Williams reached a career-high point total for the second straight game. The senior — a transfer after three seasons at Freed-Hardeman — also had eight rebounds and four blocked shots.
     XULA led the final 35 minutes. The Gold Rush led 36-23 at halftime and took its largest lead, 55-38, on Virgil Davison's 3-pointer with 11:44 remaining. The Wolf Pack (6-5) cut the deficit to one point twice in the final 4 1/2 minutes, the second time with 30 seconds remaining when Tensley Aldridge made a pair of free throws. But hampering Loyola's comeback were six consecutive scoreless possessions in the final four minutes.
     Freshman Rayshawn Mart, in double figures for the fifth straight game, scored 14 points for XULA and had game-highs of nine rebounds and three steals. His final steal occurred in the backcourt after Jeff Dixon gave XULA a 73-70 lead with a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining. Dixon added two more free throws with four seconds remaining to conclude the scoring.
     Dixon scored 15 points, and Davison had 12.
     Ethan Turner made five 3-pointers and scored 17 points for Loyola, and Aldridge scored 15.
     Loyola outshot XULA 44.8 to 38.6 percent from the floor, but the Gold Rush dominated at the line, making 26-of-36 free throws to the Wolf Pack's 9-of-15. XULA made 21-of-31 free throws in the second half. XULA was plus-6 in turnovers, committing 13 and gaining 19.
     XULA snapped a three-game losing streak against Loyola and defeated the Wolf Pack at The Den for the first time in four years. XULA leads the series 34-12. The teams will meet Jan. 24 at XULA.