Erves doubles up to lead Gold Rush past Concordia
January 6, 2011

Box score

     NEW ORLEANS — Sophomore Denzell Erves produced his first collegiate double-double — career highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds — to lead NAIA No. 9 Xavier University of Louisiana in a 92-61 men's basketball victory against Concordia (Ala.) on Thursday.
     The Gold Rush (14-1), playing for the first time since a 61-58 loss to Dakota Wesleyan in last week's Miami Gardens (Fla.) Classic, had six players score in double figures. Chris Iles had 15 points, Wanto Joseph a season-high 14, Jamaan Kenner and Devin Andrew 12 apiece and Michael Harvey 10.
     Wendall Maye scored 17 points and Gabriel Ball 12 for Concordia (2-12), which won at home against Spring Hill on Wednesday.
     Xavier got 12 points from Iles and 10 from Erves en route to a 52-31 halftime lead. The final margin was the largest of the game.
     Cordell Hadnot also grabbed 11 rebounds for the Gold Rush. Xavier outrebounded the Hornets 52-28 and outshot them 49 to 37 percent from the floor. Xavier made 24-of-35 free throws, and Concordia made 5-of-8.
     Iles had six assists and Joseph five, and Joseph had three steals in his first start of the season. Kenner made four of Xavier's season-high-tying eight 3-pointers.
     Xavier extended its home win streak to 12 games and won for the 18th time in its last 20 games overall. The Gold Rush will travel to Jackson, Miss., for a 6 p.m. Saturday game against Belhaven, then return to home to play William Carey at 7:30 p.m. Monday.