PINEVILLE, La. - Thursday in Louisiana Christian University's H.O. West Fieldhouse, the Xavier men's basketball team demonstrated again that it is adept at making meaningful halftime adjustments, turning what had been a close game into a comfortable, 71-54 conference win. 

The Gold Rush (12-5, 9-3 RRAC) led LCU (4-14, 2-10 RRAC) by 3, 33-30, at the half, but went on a 19-3 run to start the second and cruise to the win. 

Three Xavier men scored in double figures on the night. 

Leon Williams scored 17, tied for the highest in the game with the Wildcats' top scorer. Elijah Wilson came off the bench to contribute 11 points and a game-high 8 rebounds. 

Jamal Gibson, always a force in the paint for the Gold Rush, was good for 10 points and 5 rebounds, and Seviuhn Turner added 9 points. 

The victory over the Wildcats was a key one for the Xavier men, who are locked in a battle for second in the Red River Athletic Conference with the LSU-Alexandria Generals, who posted a lopsided win over North American Thursday night. 

It won't take long for the Gold Rush to attempt to take a major step to ultimately surpass LSU-A. XULA will remain in Central Louisiana for its next game, a Saturday conference game against the Generals. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.