ALEXANDRIA, La. — Anthony Scott, a 5-foot-10 junior guard, produced 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals Friday to lead sixth-seeded Southwest (N.M.) to a 75-65 men's basketball victory against third-seeded Xavier University of Louisiana in the quarterfinals of the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament.
        The Mustangs (14-15) won for the first time in nine trips to this tournament and eliminated the defending champion Gold Rush (22-7). XULA will learn Thursday evening if it earned an at-large bid to NAIA nationals, which will begin March 15.
        Southwest scored the first four points and never lost the lead. The Mustangs led 11-2 through five minutes, 32-26 at halftime and 59-43 after Scott made 1-of-2 free throws with 8:25 remaining. XULA answered with a 14-2 push that cut the Mustangs' lead to 61-57 with 4:47 remaining, but the Gold Rush got no closer.
        Lance Williams scored 15 points, and TJ Jones and Cory Wells had 13 apiece for XULA. Wells, Corey Dunning and Jathen Ross grabbed seven rebounds apiece.
        Mojus Mojus made four 3-pointers and scored 17 points for Southwest, and Rahkiem Petterson scored 14.
        Southwest outshot XULA 38.8 to 34.5 percent from the floor, and the Mustangs made 30-of-40 free throws to XULA's 24-of-32. Southwest made 20-of-30 free throws in the second half.
        It was the first time this season that the Gold Rush lost consecutive games. XULA lost 82-69 in double overtime Tuesday at Texas College in a regular-season finale that decided the No. 2 seed.
        XULA defeated Southwest in the RRAC Tournament quarterfinals in 2022 and 2023.

2024 Red River Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
at Rapides Parish Coliseum, Alexandria, La.
Quarterfinals — Friday, March 1
LSU-Shreveport (No. 4 seed, 21-7) vs. Our Lady of the Lake (No. 5 seed, 13-14), 3 p.m. — LSU-Shreveport 84, Our Lady of the Lake 71
XULA (No. 3 seed, 22-6) vs. Southwest (N.M.) (No. 6 seed, 13-15), 4:45 p.m. — Southwest (N.M.) 75, XULA 65
Texas College (No. 2 seed, 21-7) vs. Jarvis Christian (No. 7 seed, 11-15), 6:30 p.m. — Texas College 80, Jarvis Christian 68
LSU-Alexandria (No. 1 seed, 21-6) vs. Paul Quinn (No. 8 seed, 7-17), 8:15 p.m. — TBA

Semifinals — Saturday, March 2
Southwest (N.M.) (No. 6 seed, 14-15) vs. Texas College (No. 2 seed, 22-7), 5:30 p.m.
LSUA/Paul Quinn winner vs. LSU-Shreveport (No. 4 seed, 22-7), 7:30 p.m.

Championship — Sunday, March 3
Semifinal winners meet at 4:30 p.m.