NEW ORLEANS — William Loyd and Ed Carter kept Xavier University of Louisiana's late-season momentum going Monday with a 93-76 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Philander Smith.
     Loyd and Carter scored 27 points apiece in the regular-season finale, and Carter made eight 3-pointers to tie a school record.
     It was the third consecutive double-digit victory for XULA (17-13, 8-6), which will meet the Panthers (11-18, 8-6) again Friday in the opening round of the GCAC Tournament at Jacksonville, Fla. The Gold Rush will be the No. 5 seed, and Philander Smith will be fourth.
     The GCAC will announce pairings, times and venues at noon Tuesday.
     XULA led wire-to-wire. The Gold Rush shot 62.1 percent from the floor in the first half to build a 48-29 lead at the break, then led twice by 27 in the final six minutes.
     Carter tied the record with 1:44 remaining. Percy Bland made eight 3s against Louisiana College on Feb. 23, 1989, and Mark Stewart tied the mark against Mobile in the GCAC Tournament on March 7, 2008.
     Loyd scored all but three of his points in the first half. Overall he was 10-of-11 from the floor, made 7-of-10 free throws and produced four assists and game highs of eight rebounds and four steals.
     It was the first time in the last 13 seasons that XULA produced two 27-point scorers in the same game.
     XULA senior Jeff Dixon, honored in a pregame ceremony, scored only one point but also had eight assists, five rebounds, a block and two steals. Anfernee King had nine points, five rebounds and five assists.
     Jaylon Bardley had 19 points and nine assists for Philander Smith, and Marquis Browder had 10 points and seven rebounds.