Gold Rush defeat Wiley again, remain unbeaten
November 27, 2010

Box score

     HOUSTON — Devin Andrew scored 13 points and Michael Harvey 11 Saturday to help NAIA No. 20 Xavier University of Louisiana remain unbeaten in men's basketball with a 57-54 victory over Wiley.
     The Gold Rush defeated the Wildcats for the second time in six days and are 7-0 for the first time since the 2002-03 season, Dannton Jackson's first as XU's head coach. Xavier has an 11-game regular-season win streak, its longest since 2003-04.
     Andrew, the only XU player to score in double figures in every game this season, made two free throws with 18 seconds remaining for the final points. Wiley (3-4) then missed a 3-pointer near the buzzer.
     "Wiley had no timeouts remaining on that last possession," Jackson said. "We did a good job defensively and forced them into a deep 3-pointer."
     Xavier, playing its first road game of the regular season, took a 33-18 halftime lead, then survived a Wiley press that accounted for many of XU's 15 second-half turnovers.
     "Wiley got after us pretty good in the second half," Jackson said, "They came back and took a five-point lead on us late in the game, but we dug in and found a way to come back. Michael Harvey hit a big 3-pointer to put us ahead for good."
     The 3-pointer was Harvey's only one of the game, and it extended to 21 his streak of consecutive games making a 3-pointer.
     Adrian Fontenot and Marquis Wright scored 11 points apiece for Wiley. Fontenot scored 27 on Monday in the Wildcats' 87-72 loss at Xavier.
     "Keeping Fontenot in check was important for us," Jackson said. "Our guys did a great job containing him."
     Andrew was 8-of-8 from the line and has made 21 consecutive free throws.
     Xavier outshot the Wildcats 49 to 36 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 36-22. The Rush shot a season-best 79 percent from the line but attempted a season-low 14 free throws. XU averaged 34.2 free-throw attempts in the first six games.
     Andrew, Jamaan Kenner and Houston resident Chris Iles led Xavier with five points apiece in the first half. Harvey led the Rush with nine second-half points on 4-of-4 floor shooting.
     The game was played at a neutral site, the Jerabeck Athletic and Activity Center at the University of St. Thomas. That's where Xavier will return for a 7 p.m. Monday game against St. Thomas.
     "We were able to watch St. Thomas play today in this same building," Jackson said, referring to the Celts' 63-59 victory over NCAA Division III member Wisconsin-River Falls. "St. Thomas will be the best executing team we have faced so far this season. They are a well-coached team."