Gold Rush win streak reaches six games
For immediate release . . . February 1, 2007
Box Score

NEW ORLEANS — Mark Stewart scored 22 points and Shaun Dumas 18 Thursday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 61-57 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Spring Hill at The Barn.

The victory was the sixth in a row for the Gold Rush (13-7 overall, 6-4 GCAC) and moved it into a tie for third place with LSU-Shreveport and Mobile. Three weeks ago, following a 70-66 loss at Spring Hill, Xavier was 0-4 in the league and in last place out of 10 teams.

Stewart, Xavier's leading scorer with a 16.7 average, surpassed 20 points for the third consecutive game.

Jeremy Price scored 18 points, Noah Woolridge 12 and Ugo Ezekwe 11 for Spring Hill (10-8, 5-5). The Badgers' Cash Covington, who entered the game with a team-leading 16.6 scoring average, was limited to a season-low three points in 27 minutes. Covington was 1 of 4 from the floor and 1 of 4 from the line.

The teams were tied at 22 at halftime. Woolridge's 3-pointer gave Spring Hill a 36-29 lead with 15:58 remaining before Xavier answered with a 12-4 run to reclaim the lead. About 45 seconds later, Dumas' 3-pointer at 11:28 gave Xavier the lead for good at 44-43.

Xavier then built the lead to seven and withstood a Badger rally in the final four minutes. Woolridge's steal and basket with 10 seconds remaining cut the margin to 58-57, but Xavier answered with a Dumas layup and an Olumide Olafioye free throw, and the Badgers missed two 3-pointers.

Spring Hill outshot Xavier 39 to 33 percent from the floor, but the Rush committed a season-low 12 turnovers and outrebounded the Badgers 46-35.

This is the second time in school history that Xavier won six in a row after four consecutive losses. The other time was in 1978-79.

Xavier's next game will start at 7:30 p.m. Monday against GCAC co-leader Tougaloo at The Barn.