Mart’s career-high 34 helps Rush pull away for 100-86 road victory

TYLER, Texas — Rayshawn Mart scored eight of his career-high 34 points during a second-half run that helped Xavier University of Louisiana pull away for a 100-86 men’s basketball victory Friday at Texas College.

The Gold Rush (8-3) will stay on the road and play Huston-Tillotson in Austin, Texas, at 6 p.m. Saturday. The next home game will start at 7 p.m. Tuesday against city rival and NAIA No. 17 Loyola.

Mart scored 24 in the second half, eight to cap a 16-2 run that gave XULA a 79-63 lead with 9:37 remaining. Virgil Davison started the run with back-to-back 3-pointers.

Mart scored the most points by a Gold Rush individual on an opponent’s floor since Percy Bland’s 34 at Louisiana College on Feb. 23, 1989. Mart scored a career-high-tying 25 points Wednesday in a 72-70 overtime home victory against NAIA No. 22 Wiley.

Davison finished with with 14 points, six assists and no turnovers. William Loyd had 13 points and 10 rebounds — his third double-double of the season and his third game in the last four with 10-or-more rebounds — and Johnell Lane scored 11 points in 11 1/2 minutes.

Christian Bryant scored 26 points, including 12-of-13 free throws, and Demetrious Fitzpatrick 16 for Texas College (5-3), which suffered its first loss in five home games this season. The Steers will visit XULA at 7 p.m. Jan. 7.