Gold Rush crush Bearcats in Xavier Classic finale

NEW ORLEANS — Joseph Williams scored a career-high 21 points Monday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 94-71 men’s basketball victory against Rust in the final game of the Xavier Classic.

The Gold Rush (10-4) won for the fourth straight time in six days. XULA was 10-20 last season.

Williams produced a career scoring high for the third time in four games. The senior forward also grabbed nine rebounds and had three steals.

Redshirt freshman Khalil McCoy scored a career-high 16 points for XULA, and Rayshawn Mart and Virgil Davison had 12 apiece. Mart, a freshman, had career bests of 11 assists and four steals.

Allen Potts scored 20 points for the Bearcats (3-11). DaVante Johnson had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Cameron Sembly had 13 points.

After a tie at 20 in the eighth minute, XULA surged to a 45-32 halftime lead. The Gold Rush led by double digits for the final 27:08. Elex Carter’s basket with 4:24 remaining gave XULA its largest lead, 88-62.

XULA outshot Rust 51.4 to 43.1 percent from the floor and was plus-15 in turnovers, committing 11 and gaining 26. XULA produced season bests of 13 3-pointers and 28 assists. XULA’s point total also was a season high. The Gold Rush are 10-0 this season when reaching 70 points,

The Gold Rush will travel to the University of Mobile for a 7 p.m. game Friday.