Gold Rush grab homecoming win vs. Huston-Tillotson

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana overcame a season-worst 27 turnovers by shooting a season-best 52.5 percent from the floor, making nine 3-pointers and outrebounding Huston-Tillotson by 16 Saturday in an 82-68 men’s basketball homecoming victory before 1,911 fans at the Convocation Center.

The Gold Rush (5-2) snapped a two-game losing streak and won at home for the second time in as many attempts this season.

XULA junior guard Virgil Davison, who entered the game shooting 32.1 percent from the floor, was 6-of-10 from the floor and made 5-of-7 3-pointers to score a game-high 17 points. Davison led the Gold Rush in scoring for the fifth time this season.

Jeff Dixon snapped out of a four-game scoring slump with 11 points for XULA, and Mike Williams made a pair of threes and scored eight points. But the Gold Rush had more players with turnovers (13) than with points (11).

Kalil Potts scored 14 points, Ray Edwards 13 and Evan Stewart 11 for Huston-Tillotson (0-2).

XULA maintained a double-digit lead the final 29:17, led 42-25 at halftime and held its largest advantage, 60-33, on a Jalen David basket with 11:46 remaining.

The Rams shot 36.1 from the floor — the sixth time in seven games that XULA held an opponent to less than 40 percent — and was outrebounded 42-26. Elex Carter grabbed a game-high seven rebounds for the Gold Rush, and Dixon had six. Donovan Armstrong, in his second start of the season, had a season-high five assists. Joseph Williams blocked a season-high three shots.

Heading the homecoming court, which was introduced at halftime, were Miss Xavier, Shalani Taylor of Reno, Nev., and Mr. Xavier, Hassan Owens of St. Louis. Retired XULA biology professor, longtime faculty athletics representative and NAIA Hall of Fame member Sister Grace Mary Flickinger also was honored with a permanent banner.

The Gold Rush will play Mobile at 7 p.m. Monday at the Convocation Center.