Group play schedule
TALLADEGA, Ala. — When
Rayshawn Mart
took over Tuesday, it was over.
The Xavier University of Louisiana
senior standout scored 13 of his game-high 28 points in overtime
in a 79-74 men's basketball victory against Rust during the second day
of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference group play.
XULA (5-1, 2-0) will try for its
third GCAC victory in three days in a noon Wednesday matchup against Philander
Smith.
XULA never trailed in overtime,
and Mart scored his team's first 12 points of the extra period. He reached
20 points for the fifth time this season.
"Ray was off-balance for much of
the game," XULA head coach
Alfred Williams said, "but he found his rhythm at the right time.
He hit a big three to open the overtime, and he put us on his back. He was spectacular for sure."
Three other XULA starters joined Mart
in double figures.
Makye Richard scored 20 points for the third consecutive game,
and
TJ Jones and
Corey Dunning scored 11 apiece. Dunning, a freshman, reached double figures
for the first time at XULA and blocked two shots.
Mart's newest stat-sheet-filling performance
included two assists and game highs of 10 rebounds and four steals.
Rust (2-6, 0-2) also had four double-figure
scorers. Jerrez Porter had 16 points, Jordan Jackson 14, DeAvion Washington 11 and
Eric Stimage 10. The Bearcats kept it close despite 30 turnovers, eight apiece by Jackson
and Christopher Agbo.
"Rust is a much-improved team," Williams said.
"They're talented and play hard. We had to fight. But I was proud of our guys.
They never quit. They stuck with it and competed for 45 minutes. That's what I like about our guys."