NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana
was successful on 14 consecutive field-goal attempts Thursday, including its last 12 of
the first half, and needed every one of them to earn an 89-85 men's basketball
victory against first-time opponent Oakwood.
The Gold Rush (10-8) will play host to Edward Waters in
a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game at 5 p.m. Saturday. It'll be a doubleheader,
with the Gold Nuggets and Lady Tigers tipping off at 3 p.m.
XULA shot 84.2 percent from the floor in the first half — 16 makes in
19 attempts — to build a 48-29 lead at the break, then extended the advantage
to 62-36 before the Ambassadors (6-10) produced a 49-27 run in the final 14 minutes.
Sophomores
Galen Smith,
Rayshawn Mart and
Ed Carter scored 14 points
apiece for the Gold Rush. It was a sensational night for Smith, who
had career bests in points and assists (6). He also grabbed a game-high seven rebounds
and was 6-of-8 from the floor.
Carter was similarly proficient. He was 5-of-7 from the floor and had six rebounds,
five assists and three steals.
Talik Talton scored 27 points, 19 in the second half,
for Oakwood, the third-ranked team in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association,
and Edmen Stewart scored a season-high-tying 20. The Ambassadors shot 49.1 percent
from the floor, 61.5 percent in the second half.
XULA began its lengthy can't-miss shooting when Carter made
made a 2-pointer at 10:38, and
Anfernee King followed with another at 10:11.
The streak increased to 14 in a row when Smith and
Donovan Armstrong opened
the second half with baskets, then ended when Mart missed a 3 with 17:42 remaining.
The streak was not a record. XULA made 15 consecutive field goals in the second
half of a 92-78 GCAC home victory against Tougaloo on Feb. 5, 2007, at The Barn.
XULA finished at a season-high 61.2 percent from the floor (30-of-49),
its best percentage since hitting 66.7 percent on Dec. 1, 2016, at home against Paul Quinn.
The Gold Rush reached 50 percent for the third time in the last four games and the
sixth time this season.
Talton led Oakwood's second-half rally by making 7-of-8 from
the floor and 5-of-7 free throws.
The teams will meet in two weeks in Huntsville, Ala.
