Box score
Red River Athletic Conference standings

        NEW ORLEANS — Fifth-year point guard TJ Jones scored a career-high 28 points Saturday in Xavier University of Louisiana's 86-67 men's basketball victory at city rival Dillard.
        It was the season opener for both. Dillard will visit XULA Nov. 18 in the Crosstown Classic at XULA's Convocation Center.
        Jones was 9-of-13 from the floor, 3-of-4 on 3-pointers and a career-best 7-of-7 on free throws. He had five assists and four steals. It was the third 20-point game for Jones, who averaged six points per game his first four seasons, and the first since his sophomore season.
        Jones is playing an extra season thanks to an NAIA COVID-19 pandemic waiver.
        Three other XULA starters scored 15-or-more points. Cory Wells had 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and no turnovers, and Jathen Ross (four 3s) and Lance Williams scored 15 apiece. Reserve guard Jeremy Lindsey had six points, two blocks and game highs of six assists and five steals.
        Armond Williams had 17 points, seven rebounds and four blocks for Dillard, and Justin Warren scored 15.
        Two Tyrus Crawford free throws at 9:01 of the first half gave Dillard its largest lead, 28-22. But less than five minutes later, the Gold Rush took the lead for good at 35-33 on Ross' dunk, and XULA led 44-36 at halftime. Jones led the first-half rally with 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Wells and Williams scored 3-point plays.
        Williams made 1-of-2 free throws with 6:34 remaining to give XULA its largest lead, 74-49.
        Both teams shot close to 50 percent from the floor, but XULA made four more 3s and nine more free throws than the Bleu Devils. XULA gained 21 turnovers, 14 on steals.
        Coupled with XULA's 52-37 victory in the women's game, it was the second time in series history — the other was Feb. 14, 1981 — that both XULA teams beat Dillard by 15-or-more points in a Dent Hall doubleheader. The Gold Rush ended a five-game losing streak against Dillard at Dent Hall.
        The Gold Rush lead the series 93-59.
        Next for XULA will be its homecoming game, next Saturday against the College of Biblical Studies at the Convocation Center. The men's game will start at 2:30 p.m., and the women's game will start at noon.