Wiley gives Gold Rush its first loss of the season
For immediate release . . . November 24, 2007
Box Score

MARSHALL, Texas — Wiley College didn't have a double-figure scorer, but the Wildcats scored 17 second-chance points Saturday to defeat Xavier University of Louisiana 57-54 in the Xavier Classic and drop the Gold Rush from the unbeaten ranks.

Shaun Dumas scored a season-high 16 points for Xavier (6-1), ranked 10th in the NAIA Division I coaches poll. Cornelius Kennedy scored 11 points, and Mark Stewart had 10.

Tremaine Enoch and Michael Essien scored eight points apiece to lead 19th-ranked Wiley (7-1), and Terrell Jacob — who scored 29 two weeks ago in a 68-67 loss at Xavier — had seven.

Wiley clinched the victory after Xavier rallied from a 35-28 halftime deficit to take a one-point lead in the final two minutes.

Kennedy and Alfred Williams each had seven rebounds for Xavier. Jacob and Lael Johnson each had seven rebounds for Wiley, which outrebounded the Gold Rush 42-23 and grabbed 20 offensive rebounds.

Xavier outshot Wiley 44 to 40 percent from the floor, but the Rush was 5 of 14 from the line and scored 14 fewer second-chance points.

Wiley was the only 2-0 team in the four-team event. Xavier and Loyola — a 72-69 winner over Texas College in Saturday's other game — were 1-1, and Texas College was 0-2.

Xavier's next game will start at 7 p.m. Friday against Spalding in the adidas Hardwood Classic at The Barn. SUNO will play Savannah College of Art & Design in the opening game at 5 p.m. Friday.