NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University
of Louisiana men's basketball roared back from a 16-point first-half deficit Wednesday
to defeat Edward Waters 73-60 and finish second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season
standings.
The victory ensured XULA (9-3, 5-1)
of a Feb. 23 home game against seventh-place Tougaloo in the opening round of
the GCAC Tournament. Semifinals and finals for men and women will be Feb. 27-28
at Jacksonville, Fla.
Talladega clinched the regular-season
championship outright with an 80-72 victory against Dillard.
The GCAC men's schedule concluded Wednesday after nine games in three games at XULA.
Rayshawn Mart scored 15 of his game-high 23 points
in the second half, and
Cory Wells had 13 for XULA.
Corey Dunning had 12 points, nine
rebounds and six blocks,
Makye Richard scored 11, and
TJ Jones had eight of his 10
assists in the second half.
Jordan Jackson scored 18 points, and Dontrell Whitaker
had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Edward Waters (9-7, 2-4). The Tigers tied for fourth place
in the GCAC with Philander Smith and Rust.
"It was a sloppy, ugly game," XULA head coach
Alfred Williams said. "I'm glad we won. Defensively we locked down in the second half.
I was happy to see us settle down and play much better in the second half."
Edward Waters made 5-of-6 3s in the first seven
minutes and led 30-14 after Whitaker's basket at 6:54 of the first half.
XULA then outscored the Tigers 41-18 during the next 25 minutes.
Mart made 5-of-8 free throws to become
the XULA career leader in free throws made with 398. Merlin Peters (1989-93)
held the previous record of 394. Mart entered the game tied for second place with
Derrick Collins (1983-87).
Mart broke the record at 17:03 of the second half when he made 1-of-2 free throws.
Dunning scored in double figures for the third time in
the last four games and tied his XULA record for blocks in a game by a freshman.
It was the fourth time in the last five games that Dunning had at least five blocks.
Wells produced his second-most points in a XULA game, and his three made 3-pointers were a career high.
XULA will travel to Paragould, Ark.,
for a 1 p.m. Saturday non-conference matchup at NAIA member Crowley's Ridge.
GCAC standings (final)
6-0 Talladega
5-1 XULA
4-2 Dillard
2-4 Edward Waters
2-4 Philander Smith
2-4 Rust
0-6 Tougaloo
