Mustangs rally in final nine minutes to defeat Gold Rush 60-57

The University of the Southwest rallied in the second half Saturday for a 60-57 Red River Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana at Hobbs, N.M.

The Mustangs (5-2 overall, 1-1 RRAC) trailed 49-34 with nine minutes remaining but outscored the Gold Rush 26-8 thereafter, including a 15-1 run. A Xavier Reaves putback with 61 seconds remaining gave XULA (5-3, 1-1) its final lead, 57-56.

Southwest took the lead for good on a putback with 38 seconds remaining, then sealed the decision on two Tre Thomas free throws with 11.4 seconds remaining. XULA missed four field-goal attempts, including two 3-pointers, in the final 15 seconds.

Brian White scored a season-high 15 points, including three 3-pointers, for XULA, and Cory Wells scored 12.

Thomas led the Mustangs with 15 points, 11 in the second half, and Jahvonta Jones scored 12.