NEW ORLEANS —: Dillard's Jalen McGaughy continued his outstanding play against Xavier University of Louisiana, producing game-highs of 27 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots Saturday in an 87-74 men's basketball victory in the Bleu Devil Classic at Dent Hall.
     The Bleu Devils (20-6, 10-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference), ranked seventh in the NAIA, clinched an outright GCAC regular-season championship and swept the Gold Rush (9-18, 5-5) in two regular-season meetings for the first time since 2000-01.
     Seth Jackson and Chris Ward combined for all but three points in an 18-2 XULA run that lasted more than four minutes and reduced Dillard's lead to 82-74 with 52 seconds remaining.
     It's been more than five years since a XULA player produced 20 points and 10 rebounds against anyone. McGaughy did it against the Gold Rush for the second time in three weeks. The 6-foot-10 junior, a transfer from two-year Midland College in Texas, had 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks Jan. 28 in a 104-71 victory at XULA.
     This time McGaughy was 6-of-11 from the floor, 4-of-7 on 3s and 11-of-12 from the line. His single-game point total is the highest by any player in this series in eight years.
     Four others scored in double figures for Dillard. Demetric Austin had 17 points, and Quentin Jackson, Montrey Thomas and Dennis Hightower scored 10 apiece. Austin grabbed nine rebounds, and Thomas had five assists.
     Jalen David scored 18 points, Jackson 17 and Donovan Armstrong 12 for XULA. Elex Carter grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots.
     McGaughy and Hightower made 3-pointers during a 15-0 run that gave Dillard an 18-5 lead in the eighth minute. The Bleu Devils led 43-26 at halftime and by 24 points three times in the second half.
     Dillard outshot XULA 41.4 to 35.2 percent from the floor. The Gold Rush committed a season-low 11 turnovers and made a season-best 31 free throws in 38 attempts. XULA was 23-of-26 from the line in the second half. But Dillard also visited the line frequently, taking advantage of a season-worst 30 XULA fouls to make 28-of-39. Carter, Ward and Jerry Gibson fouled out. Dillard made 11 3-pointers, six in the first 10 minutes.
     XULA will play 22nd-ranked Talladega in a GCAC game and the regular-season home finale at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Convocation Center, and seniors Jackson and Wesley Pluviose-Philip will be honored in a pregame ceremony.