JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball lost 79-65 Monday at Edward Waters but lost no ground in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference standings.
     The Gold Rush received help from Talladega, which scored 59 second-half points to rally for a 78-65 home victory against GCAC leader Tougaloo.
     This is certain: XULA (22-6, 10-2) and Tougaloo (22-6, 11-2) will play for the regular-season championship next Monday at 7:30 p.m. at XULA's Convocation Center. It'll be a winner-take-all scenario if the Gold Rush defeat Dillard Saturday. If not, XULA will play for a share of the title.
     XULA, however, was nowhere near championship quality in its second GCAC road game in three days. The Tigers (13-12, 7-6) took the lead for good in the 13th minute, led 38-23 at halftime and by as much as 22 in the second half.
     Junior forward Maurice Johnson scored a season-high 27 points and made 5-of-7 3-pointers for Edward Waters. One month earlier, Johnson scored five points and missed all four of his 3s in a 62-54 loss at XULA.
     Johnson also had game highs of nine rebounds and six assists. He blocked a shot and produced two steals in 34 minutes.
     Anthony Young scored 12 points for the Tigers, and Chris Oakley scored 11.
     Rayshawn Mart scored 22 points for XULA, William Loyd and Makye Richard had 11 apiece, ansd Ed Carter scored 10.
     Edward Waters outshot XULA 50 to 40.7 percent from the floor and had a 42-26 rebound advantage.
     The loss was just the second in XULA's last 14 games and its third in its last 21.
     The Dillard game will tip off at 5 p.m. at the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena. Dillard chose to take off-campus its home doubleheader against XULA for the first time since 2010.