Jones’ last-minute 3-pointer lifts No. 21 Gold Rush against Saints

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Cory Wells and TJ Jones combined for 47 points Saturday, and Jones’ 3-pointer with 47 seconds remaining put NAIA No. 21 Xavier University of Louisiana ahead to stay in an 88-81 Red River Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory against Our Lady of the Lake.

XULA moved into a first-place in the RRAC with NAIA No. 4 LSU-Shreveport, which lost 81-78 at Paul Quinn. The Gold Rush and the Pilots are 5-1 in conference.

Jones’ 3-pointer, his game-high third of the game, gave XULA an 82-79 lead. Jones tacked on two free throws with 12 seconds remaining and two more with nine seconds remaining.

Wells scored 25 points, a career high, and made 10-of-11 free throws. Jones finished with 22 points, 17 in the second half. Jones scored 15 points in the final 8:05 — nine points in the final 92 seconds.

Jathen Ross had 12 points and a season-high seven rebounds for XULA, and teammate Corey Dunning was 5-of-6 from the floor with a season-high 11 points.

Trey Law scored 20 points and Daniel Helterhoff 15 for the Saints (6-7 overall, 3-4 RRAC), who led 44-40 at halftime.

XULA produced a season high for points in a game and committed a season-low five turnovers. The Gold Rush are 9-2 overall with a three-game winning streak and six victories in the last seven games.

The Gold Rush will play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at home against LSU-Alexandria in XULA’s Convocation Center. LSUA is 4-2 in the RRAC after a 72-67 victory at Jarvis Christian, and the Generals are tied for third place with North American.

Red River Athletic Conference scores of Jan. 6, 2024 (home teams in bold)
XULA 88, Our Lady of the Lake 81
Paul Quinn 81, LSU-Shreveport 78
LSU-Alexandria 72, Jarvis Christian 67
Texas College 68, Louisiana Christian 65
Southwest (N.M.) 76, Texas A&M-Texarkana 60
North American 75, Huston-Tillotson 69

Red River Athletic Conference standings through Jan. 6, 2024
5-1 XULA
5-1 LSU-Shreveport
4-2 LSU-Alexandria
4-2 North American
5-3 Jarvis Christian
5-3 Texas College
3-4 Our Lady of the Lake
3-4 Southwest (N.M.)
2-4 Texas A&M-Texarkana
2-5 Paul Quinn
1-5 Louisiana Christian
1-6 Huston-Tillotson