Xavier beats Hope International in NAIA opening round

Xavier University of Louisiana men’s basketball scored the first 16 points Tuesday and rolled to a 95-57 victory against Hope International in the first round of NAIA nationals at Caldwell, Idaho.

Jathen Ross scored 18 points, Xavier Reaves 11 and Lance Williams 10 for XULA (23-8), which will play No. 1 overall seed College of Idaho (31-1) at 7 p.m. MST Wednesday for the right to advance to the final 16 next week at Kansas City, Mo.

College of Idaho defeated Westcliff 78-61 in the other first-round game — the Yotes’ 31st consecutive victory.

The Gold Rush made 12 3-pointers and outshot the Royals 54.4 to 39.3 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 45-27.

Sebastian Castro scored 14 points for Hope International (20-11).

XULA has won 10 of its last 11 games, 14 of 17 and 17 of 21. The Rush won a first-round game at nationals for the third straight year. From 1974-2020, XULA was 1-16 in that round.