Hadnot, Kenner score 18 apiece, help XU improve to 8-1
December 12, 2009

Box score

     MARSHALL, Texas — Sophomores Cordell Hadnot and Jamaan Kenner each scored a career-high 18 points Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 67-63 men's basketball victory over Texas College in the opening game of the Wiley Classic.
     The Gold Rush (8-1) has won five in a row since losing 67-65 at home in overtime to Texas College on Nov. 14.
     Michael Harvey added 14 points for Xavier in its first road game of the regular season.
     There were six ties and 11 lead changes before Hadnot's free throw with 17:17 remaining put Xavier ahead to stay at 40-39. Two Kenner free throws at 5:45 gave the Rush its biggest lead, 62-52.
     Ladarren Williams scored 12 points, Trey Manning 11 and Jacobie Bias 10 for Texas College (4-4), which dropped its second in a row.
     Xavier, No. 2 in NAIA Division I in 3-point field-goal percentage defense, limited the Steers to 34.9 percent from the floor. The Rush shot 42.9 percent and made a season-high nine 3-pointers, including a career-high five by Kenner.
     Manning scored nine points to lead Texas College to a 35-34 halftime advantage, but it was the Steers' final lead. Kenner opened the second-half scoring with a 3-pointer, and there were two ties before Hadnot put the Rush ahead to stay in the 23rd minute.
     Xavier has won three times this season after trailing at halftime.
     Manning, who had 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the Steers' victory at Xavier, scored only two second-half points and did not make a 3-pointer for the first time this season. Manning was credited with three assists, well below his NAIA Division I-leading 10.1 average.
     Xavier is 8-1 for the fifth time in Dannton Jackson's seven seasons as head coach.
     Xavier will play Wiley at 4 p.m. Sunday in the final game of this event. Wiley beat SUNO 72-69 in the second game.