Gold Rush reaches .500 in GCAC after beating SUNO
For immediate release . . . January 25, 2007
Box Score

NEW ORLEANS — Mark Stewart scored 25 points Thursday, and freshman Rashaad Lewis had 10 points and 10 rebounds to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 78-73 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against SUNO at Delgado Gym.

Shawn Dumas added nine points and 11 assists for the Gold Rush (11-7 overall, 4-4 GCAC), which earned its fourth consecutive conference victory after losing its first four. Xavier knocked SUNO (7-8, 6-3) out of first place.

Willie Chaney scored 20 points, Kevin Thomas 18 and Marcus Scott 12 for the Knights.

There were eight ties and 10 lead changes before Michael Ruffin's basket with 10:16 remaining put Xavier ahead to stay at 61-60. The Rush extended its lead to eight before scoring the final four points after Scott's basket with 1:53 to play cut Xavier's lead to 74-73.

Stewart made five 3-pointers to move into third place on Xavier's season list with 61. Lewis had his first double-double in five games since rejoining the team at midterm.

Xavier outshot SUNO 56 to 47 percent from the floor, but the Knights had a 34-29 rebounding edge.

Xavier's next game will start at 7 p.m. Saturday at The Barn against Dillard. SUNO's next game will start at 3 p.m. Saturday at Delgado against NAIA No. 13 LSU-Shreveport. Both matchups are GCAC games.