Wells scores 20 to lead Xavier past LCU

PINEVILLE, La. — Cory Wells’ 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks Monday led Xavier University of Louisiana in a 73-63 Red River Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory against Louisiana Christian.

The XULA men (18-7 overall, 13-5 RRAC) won their fifth in row — three on the road in the last five days — and snapped the three-game winning streak of the Wildcats (10-15, 6-11). XULA is one game behind RRAC co-leaders LSU-Shreveport and Texas A&M-Texarkana; both those teams were idle.

Wells scored in double figures for the third straight game — it was his second 20-point performance this season — and the 6-foot-7 junior forward continued his accurate shooting, making 9-of-15 from the floor to make him 20-of-31 (64.5 percent) in the last three games.

Wells’ basket with 1:22 remaining in the first half put the Gold Rush ahead to stay at 31-30. It was 36-30 at halftime — XULA outscored the Wildcats 13-4 in the final 3 1/2 minutes of the period — and XULA held its largest lead, 60-49, when Lance Williams made a 3-pointer with 8:08 remaining.

Jathen Ross, with 13 points in 15 minutes and 3-of-5 3-pointers, was the other Gold Rush double-figure scorer.

Delor Johnson scored 17 points for Louisiana Christian, and Jude Akabueze had 15 points and nine rebounds before fouling out.

XULA outshot the Wildcats 53.7 to 41.8 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 35-26. XULA had a 38-24 advantage in points in the paint.

The XULA men will play their final two regular-season games at home in the Convocation Center: 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Texas A&M-Texarkana and noon Saturday against Paul Quinn. XULA fans are asked to wear black to the Thursday doubleheader.