Gold Rush beats Dillard for fifth straight victory
For immediate release . . . January 27, 2007
Box Score

NEW ORLEANS — Mark Stewart scored 21 points, and Shaun Dumas had 11 points, 11 assists and seven steals Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 71-56 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Dillard at The Barn.

The Gold Rush (12-7 overall, 5-4 GCAC) earned its season-high fifth consecutive victory, all in conference, after losing its first four GCAC games. Dillard is 4-12, 2-7.

Stewart, who exceeded 20 points for the second consecutive game, made four 3-pointers to move into second place on Xavier's season list with 65. The school record is 74.

It was the second consecutive game that Dumas had 11 assists and the fifth time this season he reached double figures in that category.

Xavier freshman Rashaad Lewis had 12 points and a season-high 12 rebounds for his second straight double-double. Alfred Williams scored 12 points.

David Manning scored 15 points for Dillard but also committed 10 turnovers. Germain Jordan had 11 points and 15 rebounds, and Cornice Wingate scored 10.

Xavier led 33-23 at halftime. Dillard tied the score at 35 on Jordan's basket with 16:02 remaining, but the Gold Rush scored the next 10 points and never lost the lead again. Xavier led by 16 twice in the final minute before finishing with its biggest margin against its longtime city rival since 1995.

Xavier's next game will start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at The Barn against GCAC opponent Spring Hill.