NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Corey Dunning is the Red River Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week in men's basketball for Jan. 13-19.
        The RRAC announced Monday the award, Dunning's first in his five-year XULA career.
        Dunning — a 6-foot-9 forward from Lafayette, La., and a graduate of Lafayette High School — played 34 minutes and produced 12 defensive rebounds, three steals and seven blocked shots in Gold Rush games against North American and Huston-Tillotson. Dunning blocked a season-high five shots against North American.
        It's the fourth time this season that the Gold Rush won a conference weekly award. Lance Williams (Nov. 18-24), James Weathers (Nov. 25-Dec. 1) and Seviuhn Turner (Dec. 9-15) won on offense.
        XULA's next five basketball playing dates:
        • Wednesday, Jan. 22 at home vs. LSU-Shreveport — women 5:30 p.m., men 7:30 p.m.
        • Saturday, Jan. 25 at LSU-Alexandria — women 1 p.m., men 3 p.m.
        • Tuesday, Jan. 28 at SUNO — men only, 7 p.m.
        • Thursday, Jan. 30 at home vs. Louisiana Christian — women 5:30 p.m., men 7:30 p.m.
        • Saturday, Feb. 1 at Louisiana Christian — women 1 p.m., men 3 p.m.

Photo of Corey Dunning by Marlon Roundtree