STAFFORD, Texas - XULA's men's basketball team fought hard, but came up just 3 points short in their Red River Athletics Conference opener Wednesday night, a 66-63 loss to North American. 

In a game as close as this one, there wasn't an area in which North American (5-1, 1-0 RRAC) was demonstrably better than the Gold Rush. 

Xavier (3-3, 0-1 RRAC) held a 2-point lead at the break, but a late scoring burst by the Stallions proved to be just enough. 

The score was tied at 53 with 6:46 to play, but North American scored 9 unanswered points over the next 4 minutes of gameplay. It was a hole that Xavier could not quite overcome, despite the players' efforts to make a spirited comeback in the game's last two minutes. 

Elijah Tate posted 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and a block in the effort. Seviuhn Turner was the only other Gold Rush player to reach double figures, scoring 13 points to go along with 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block. 

As much as losing hurts, the Gold Rush can take some comfort in knowing that no team this season has ever gotten an easy win. All three of XULA's losses this season have either been by one possession or in overtime. 

The Gold Nuggets remain on the road for their next two games, both of which will be in RRAC play. Xavier visits North Texas-Dallas at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 before facing Southwest at 3 p.m. on Dec. 13 in  Hobbs, New Mexico, on Dec. 13.

XULA's next home game will be just before Christmas, Dec. 18, versus Our Lady of the Lake. Tipoff for that contest will be 3 p.m.