Gold Rush win at LSUA for first time

ALEXANDRIA, La. — Xavier University of Louisiana men’s basketball finally broke through at LSU-Alexandria, scoring 49 second-half points Tuesday to rally for a 77-62 Red River Athletic Conference victory.

The Gold Rush (7-4 overall, 3-2 RRAC) won at LSUA (8-6, 2-4) for the first time in five attempts.

It was the first of three games in five days for XULA, which will play host to Texas College at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in XULA’s Convocation Center.

The Gold Rush trailed 32-28 after LSUA scored the final 11 points of the first half, then outscored the Generals 49-30 thereafter. Second-year guard Tracy Steele, in his season debut, scored a career-high 16 points.

“This team is learning how to win,” seventh-year XULA head coach Alfred Williams said. “Tonight our guys gave a championship-level performance for 33, maybe 34 minutes.”

Steele made one shot, a 3-pointer, in three first-semester games in 2021-22. Against LSUA he was 5-of-8 from the floor, 3-of-5 on -pointers, and he had four rebounds, a block and a steal in 21 minutes.

“I’m super proud of Tracy,” Williams said. “He was ready tonight when his number was called. He gave us just what we needed. He made shots and played outstanding.”

Seven XULA players scored seven-or-more points. Brian White scored 12, Corey Dunning, Lance Williams, Xavier Reaves and Cory Wells had eight apiece, and TJ Jones had seven. Dunning matched his season high.

Wells and Dunning grabbed five rebounds apiece, and Reaves had three of XULA’s 13 steals.

Jakemin Abney scored 17 points and Jadarrian Allen 16 for LSUA, which is 7-2 all-time against the Gold Rush. They’ll meet again Jan. 26 at XULA.

XULA’s 19-point second-half scoring advantage was its largest in a conference road game since 2012.

The Generals, 101-9 in nine seasons at The Fort, suffered the largest-ever losing margin on their home court. The previous worst was an 88-78 defeat against Texas A&M-Texarkana in 2021.