NEW ORLEANS — William Loyd, Rayshawn Mart and Makye Richard combined for a third of Xavier University of Louisiana's points Saturday in a 91-76 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Talladega.
     The Gold Rush (16-4, 4-0), ranked 15th in NAIA Division I, have won six straight and 12 of 13. The latter is XULA's most successful stretch since opening the 2010-11 season with 13 consecutive victories and 14 wins in the first 15 games.
     Mart scored 23 points, Loyd 22, Richard 16 and Nigel Allen 12 to help XULA produce its most points and largest winning margin against Talladega in 19 years.
     Morris Dunnigan scored 28 points, including six 3-pointers, for the Tornadoes (16-4, 3-1), who are ranked 20th. Phil Winston had 19 points and eight rebounds.
     XULA led 36-28 at halftime, then pulled away with 55 in the second half — its most points in any half in the last 99 games. XULA is 4-2 this season (4-0 home) against ranked opponents.
     XULA made 13-of-23 3-pointers. Mart, Richard and Johnell Lane made three treys apiece — Mart was 3-of-3 — and Allen made two.
     "We shot the ball extremely well," XULA head coach Alfred Williams said. "The 3-ball was rolling for us. Our three amigos — Rayshawn, Will Loyd and Makye — showed up big time. Nigel and Ed Carter gave us a huge spark off the bench, and everybody else was solid.
     "It was good to see Johnell Lane hit some shots. I'm happy our guys showed up focused and ready to go.'
     Tougaloo — a 74-71 winner at home against Edward Waters — and XULA are the only teams unbeaten in GCAC games this season. The Bulldogs are 5-0, a half-game ahead of XULA.
     The Gold Rush will continue a four-game home stand with a 7:30 p.m. Monday matchup against Edward Waters. Also that day, Talladega will visit Tougaloo.