Xavier speeds past Wesley in season opener
For immediate release . . . November 6, 2007
Box Score

NEW ORLEANS — Newcomer Jarrel Lake scored 21 points to lead five teammates in double figures and propel Xavier University of Louisiana to a season-opening 122-71 men's basketball victory against Wesley (Miss.) at The Barn.

The Gold Rush, ranked 10th in NAIA Division I, won its 12th consecutive home opener and scored its most points in a game since the 1975-76 season.

Lake, a 6-foot-8 sophomore forward/center and a transfer from Cal State Fullerton, was 9-of-12 from the floor, blocked two shots and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds in 27 minutes.

Dannie Woods, also 9-of-12 from the floor, scored a career-high 20 points in 18 minutes for Xavier, which led 53-28 at halftime.

Terrence Robinson scored 17 points, Josh Cole 12 and Keith Simmons 10 for Wesley. All four of the Warriors' losses are to Gulf Coast Athletic Conference schools.

All 11 Xavier players scored, and 10 of them scored six or more. Kelechi Okoroha scored 15, Shaun Dumas 14, Mark Stewart 12 and Olumide Olafioye 10. Okoroha and Stewart did not enter the game until the 25th minute.

Xavier outshot the Warriors 65 to 33 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 58-29. The Gold Rush collected 34 assists, with each player getting at least one and Dumas leading with eight.

Xavier's next game will start at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Webber International at The Barn.