XULA overcomes 16-point deficit to lock up second place in GCAC

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men’s basketball roared back from a 16-point first-half deficit Wednesday to defeat Edward Waters 73-60 and finish second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season standings.

The victory ensured XULA (9-3, 5-1) of a Feb. 23 home game against seventh-place Tougaloo in the opening round of the GCAC Tournament. Semifinals and finals for men and women will be Feb. 27-28 at Jacksonville, Fla.

Talladega clinched the regular-season championship outright with an 80-72 victory against Dillard. The GCAC men’s schedule concluded Wednesday after nine games in three games at XULA.

Rayshawn Mart scored 15 of his game-high 23 points in the second half, and Cory Wells had 13 for XULA. Corey Dunning had 12 points, nine rebounds and six blocks, Makye Richard scored 11, and TJ Jones had eight of his 10 assists in the second half.

Jordan Jackson scored 18 points, and Dontrell Whitaker had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Edward Waters (9-7, 2-4). The Tigers tied for fourth place in the GCAC with Philander Smith and Rust.

“It was a sloppy, ugly game,” XULA head coach Alfred Williams said. “I’m glad we won. Defensively we locked down in the second half. I was happy to see us settle down and play much better in the second half.”

XULA will travel to Paragould, Ark., for a 1 p.m. Saturday non-conference matchup at NAIA member Crowley’s Ridge.