Gold Rush begin trip with 77-68 defeat at NAIA No. 7 William Carey

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — NAIA No. 7 William Carey limited Xavier University of Louisiana to two points during an extended second-half stretch to pull away for a 77-68 men’s basketball victory Thursday.

The Crusaders (3-2) gained a two-game season split with the Gold Rush (4-3). XULA won 80-66 at home Nov. 5.

Johnell Lane’s sixth 3-pointer of the game cut Carey’s lead to 60-56 with 9:31 remaining, but William Carey answered with a 12-2 run that Cameron Douglas capped with two free throws at 1:44.

Douglas scored 17 points, Anthony Jones 16 — 13 in the second half — and Jartavious Dobbs 12 for William Carey. Rodney Mallett and Brandon Cranford scored 11 points apiece.

Lane made three 3s in each half to finish with a game- and season-high 20 points. William Loyd had 17 points and nine rebounds for XULA, and Rayshawn Mart scored 11 points.

XULA led for 2:19, all in the first half. William Carey led 36-31 at halftime and took the lead for good with 14:35 remaining when two Dobbs free throws made it 45-43.

William Carey excelled at the line, making 20-of-25 free throws to XULA’s 8-of-11. The Gold Rush committed a season-high-tying 19 turnovers, seven more than the Crusaders.

XULA, playing three times on the road in four days, will visit NCAA Division II Columbus State at 1 p.m. EST Saturday in Columbus, Ga. The Gold Rush will be in Atlanta Sunday for a 4 p.m. EST matchup with another NCAA D2 opponent, Clark Atlanta.