Box score

        PINEVILLE, La. — Xavier University of Louisiana, ranked 19th in NAIA men's basketball, scored on each of its final four possessions Monday to preserve a 69-65 Red River Athletic Conference victory against Louisiana Christian.
        Makye Richard scored 21 points, Jalen King 11 and Jeremy Lindsey 10 for the Gold Rush (12-4 overall, 3-3 RRAC). Nigel Allen and Lance Williams scored nine apiece. The Gold Rush snapped a two-game losing streak.
        Kae'ron Baker scored 26 points and Jordan Adebutu 18 for the Wildcats (7-10, 2-4).
        XULA shot a season-high 57.1 percent from the floor and reached 50 percent for the first time in 13 games. King was 5-of-5 from the floor and grabbed seven rebounds, and teammate Corey Dunning grabbed a game-high nine. Dunning and Williams blocked two shots apiece.
        A Baker basket at 15:32 of the first half gave LC its only lead, 7-5. Lindsey's 3-point play at 6:21 of the half put XULA ahead to stay at 22-19. The Gold Rush led 35-26 at halftime.
        Richard scored the first four points of the second half to give XULA its largest lead, 39-26.
        The Wildcats got as close as three points four times in the final 95 seconds. XULA secured the victory when Allen grabbed TJ Jones' second missed free throw with 4.4 seconds remaining, got fouled and made 1-of-2 free throws for the final margin.
        Consecutive layups in the final minute by Richard and Cameron Wells helped XULA respond to the Wildcats' 7-of-7 free throws in the final 65 seconds.
        It was the 60th meeting between the schools — XULA leads the series 39-21 — but the first since Feb. 10, 2000. LC moved to NCAA Division III the following season, then returned to the NAIA in July with membership in the RRAC. XULA and LC were charter members of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, which launched in 1981-82, and XULA left that league for the RRAC in July.
        In November LC changed its name from Louisiana College to Louisiana Christian University.
        LC was the first predominantly white 4-year college to play the Gold Rush in basketball — they split a pair of games during the 1971-72 season.
        XULA will be home Thursday to play RRAC opponent Texas College at the Convocation Center — women's game at 5:30 p.m., then the men's game at 7:30 — and the doubleheader will be open to fans who wear masks and provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.