LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Jamahl Jackson and JaCarre Crockett led a second-half surge Monday that lifted Philander Smith to an 84-67 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 22 Xavier University of Louisiana.
     The Panthers (8-9, 3-2) closed with a 33-10 run (16-of-19 free throws) over the final 9:07, getting nine points from Jackson and eight from Crockett. They took the lead for good, 60-59, when Tyson Oliver made a pair of free throws with 6:31 remaining.
     Jalen Davis scored a season-high-tying 21 points, Virgil Davison 13 and Jeff Dixon 10 for the Gold Rush (14-6, 3-2). The XULA men dropped their second decision in three days after winning eight in a row.
     Philander Smith trailed 31-17 in the 17th minute and 33-28 at halftime. But the Panthers roared back with the help of 6-of-8 3-pointers and 22-of-27 free throws in the second half.
     Dejalin Austin scored 22 points — he made 5-of-8 3-pointers — and Chris Journet 12 for Philander Smith, which is 7-1 at home this season. Jackson and Ernest Maize scored 11 points apiece, and Justin Small had 10. Maize grabbed 10 rebounds to record his second straight double-double, and Marquis Browder had five steals.
     XULA outshot Philander Smith 46.9 to 35.9 percent from the floor but committed 30 fouls, three technical fouls and a season-worst 28 turnovers. The Gold Rush committed 17 turnovers in the first half.
     The Panthers' victory denied XULA a share of first place in the GCAC with Talladega, which was idle. Talladega leads the conference at 4-1, followed by Tougaloo at 3-1 and XULA and Philander Smith in a third-place tie, half a game ahead of fifth-place Dillard at 2-2.
     The Gold Rush will play non-conference city rival Loyola (10-7) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at XULA's Convocation Center. It will be XULA's first home game since Dec. 18. The Gold Rush won 75-70 at Loyola Dec. 16.