Gold Rush defense takes control in 62-45 home victory
December 6, 2011

Box score

     NEW ORLEANS — Cordell Hadnot scored 10 points Tuesday, and Xavier University of Louisiana excelled defensively in a 62-45 men's basketball victory against Mobile.
     The Gold Rush shut down Mobile scoring leader Ji Kimbrough and allowed its fewest points in nearly a year.
     Kimbrough, who entered the game averaging 19.7 points, scored a season-low four points in 36 minutes. He was 0-of-5 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the line.
     Xavier used 11 players, and 10 scored. Chris Iles and Wanto Joseph had nine points apiece, and Denzell Erves and Renard Smith scored eight apiece. Erves grabbed 10 rebounds, his most since the season opener, and had two steals and two blocks.
     Brock Dockery led Mobile (3-5) with nine points and six rebounds.
     Hadnot, a senior forward who led the Gold Rush in scoring for the first time this season, scored eight second-half points on 3-of-3 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the line.
     Mobile led 7-4 in the fifth minute before Xavier took control during the next 8½ minutes with an 19-2 run which included 11 consecutive points. Kevin Miller's 3-point play, his only points of the game, put the Gold Rush ahead to stay at 9-7 with 13:09 remaining. Smith and Iles scored five points apiece during the burst, which Smith capped with a 3-pointer to give Xavier a 23-9 lead at at 6:31.
     Xavier led 34-18 at halftime and maintained its double-digit lead thereafter. Twice the Rush led by 19 in the second half.
     The Gold Rush outshot the Rams 44.9 to 37.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 36-25. Xavier committed 15 turnovers but gained 20 on a season-best 12 steals.
     Xavier allowed its fewest points since a 69-42 victory against Webber International on the road last Dec. 29. Xavier allowed its fewest points at The Barn since a 65-45 victory against Mobile on Feb. 22, 2010.
     The Gold Rush defeated the Rams for a school-record fifth consecutive time and swept Mobile for the second straight season. Xavier won 80-71 at Mobile on Nov. 14 with Kimbrough scoring 27 points. Xavier is 41-2 in non-conference home games the past four seasons.
     Xavier will break for fall semester exams, then resume its schedule at 7 p.m. next Tuesday at William Carey.