Xavier takes both ends of hoops doubleheader from rival Dillard

Women’s Basketball

Xavier University of Louisiana limited Dillard to 18.3 percent shooting from the floor Thursday and rolled to a 52-40 women’s basketball victory in the Crosstown Classic at XULA’s Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets (11-7) swept the two-game season series against the Lady Bleu Devils (4-12).

Shylia McGee scored 14 points and Nina German 12 for XULA, Ashanti LaVergne grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds, and Abryhia Irons had eight points, seven rebounds and four assists. German made three 3-pointers.

Taylor Dewitt, with 14 points, was Dillard’s only double-figure scorer. Ariana Hart had eight points, seven rebounds and five steals.

XULA led 31-25 at halftime and pulled away by limiting Dillard to 12.9 percent from the floor – 4-of-31 – in the second half.

The Gold Nuggets will play host to Southwest (N.M.) at 2 p.m. Saturday in a Red River Athletic Conference game.

Men’s Basketball

Xavier University of Louisiana built a 15-point halftime lead Thursday, then held on for a 66-63 men’s basketball victory against Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at XULA’s Convocation Center.

The Gold Rush (11-6) gained a split in the two-game season series with the Bleu Devils (10-3).

Xavier Reaves scored a season-high 23 points for XULA on 9-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the line. The graduate transfer had three steals and two blocks.

Jeremy Lindsey scored 10 points for XULA, including 8-of-12 free throws. Cory Wells grabbed 11 rebounds.

Ty’Ohn Trimble and Kenyon Duling scored 15 points apiece for Dillard, and Raheem Carter had 12 points and 16 rebounds.

XULA led 62-52 in the 38th minute, then Dillard closed to 64-63 on two Trimble free throws in the final 10 seconds. Gold Rush fans finally exhaled after Lindsey sandwiched his offensive rebound between his pair of 1-of-2 trips to the line, and Trimble missed from 40 feet at the buzzer.

Contributing to XULA’s 31-16 halftime lead was Chris Ward with six points — 2-of-2 from the floor, 2-of-2 from the line — five rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocked shots.

The Gold Rush will play host to Southwest (N.M.) at 4 p.m. Saturday in a Red River Athletic Conference game.