Stewart sets career record in GCAC Tournament victory
For immediate release . . . March 1, 2007
Box Score

NEW ORLEANS — Mark Stewart scored 17 points Thursday and became Xavier University's career leader in 3-point field goals during a 67-64 men's basketball victory against Spring Hill in the quarterfinals of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at The Barn.

The victory, Xavier's 14th in 15 games, advanced the Gold Rush (21-8) to a 7 p.m. Saturday semifinal matchup with LSU-Shreveport at The Barn. LSUS received a forfeit victory against SUNO in the quarterfinals.

Stewart entered the game with 185 3-pointers and tied with Dale Montgomery (1992-96) for the school record. Stewart took sole possession of the record when he connected at 17:37 of the first half, and he made three more from behind the arc to raise his career total to 189 and his season total to 96, also a school record.

Stewart scored six points during a 15-4 run which gave the Xavier the lead for good midway through the second half.

Shaun Dumas had 14 points, six assists, four steals and zero turnovers in 40 minutes for Xavier. Alfred Williams had nine points and a career-high 13 rebounds.

Marcus Coleman scored 20 points, including six 3-pointers, and Jeremy Price had 12 points and six assists for Spring Hill (14-14).

Xavier, leading 66-64 in the closing moments, preserved the victory when freshman Kelechi Okoroha blocked Ugo Ezekwe's shot with five seconds remaining. Williams rebounded and made a free throw with 1.4 seconds remaining for the final margin. Spring Hill committed a turnover during the final possession.

The Badgers trailed 36-30 at halftime but came back for a 50-45 lead with 12:04 remaining. Then Xavier rallied to post its eight consecutive home victory and defeat Spring Hill for the seventh time in their last nine meetings.

Stewart made three free throws with 7:50 remaining to put Xavier ahead to stay at 54-53. The Rush built the lead to seven before Spring Hill twice cut the margin to two points in the final 2:02.

Spring Hill outshot Xavier 54 to 35 percent from the floor, but the Rush committed a season-low 11 turnovers and outrebounded the Badgers 41-29.