Gold Rush defense fuels 70-39 rout of Edward Waters
January 13, 2012

Box score

     NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Simmons had 18 points, a season high, and 12 rebounds Friday to lead NAIA No. 18 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 70-39 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Edward Waters.
     Simmons, the reigning GCAC Player of the Week, scored in double figures for the fifth consecutive game and recorded his second double-double in three games. Ten of his teammates scored but none reached double figures.
     Xavier allowed its fewest points since a 116-27 home victory against Wesley (Miss.) on Nov. 15, 2004, and its fewest in a GCAC game since a 62-36 home victory against Spring Hill on Feb. 15, 2003. It was Xavier's largest winning margin in conference since a 98-64 decision at Belhaven on Jan. 3, 2008.
     Carlton Darling had 12 points and eight rebounds for Edward Waters (7-9, 2-2), a second-year GCAC member.
     Xavier scored the first five points and never trailed. The XU men had a 16-3 run en route to a 39-18 halftime lead and held their largest advantage, 70-36, on a Simmons 3-point play with one minute remaining. The Tigers never were closer than 18 points in the second half.
     The Tigers shot 26.2 percent from the floor, a season best for Xavier's defense. The Gold Rush shot 42.9 percent and converted 32 Edward Waters fouls into 25-of-33 free throws. XU reserves Cordell Hadnot and Gil Mathieu made 6-of-6 free throws apiece.
     Xavier also produced its best turnover margin of the season, committing 21 but gaining 32. The Tigers made 17 first-half turnovers.
     It's the first time in Xavier history that both basketball teams allowed less than 40 points in a GCAC doubleheader. The Gold Nuggets defeated Edward Waters 63-35 in the opening game.
     Both the Gold Rush and Tigers will play GCAC games Saturday. Xavier will play Fisk at 7 p.m. at The Barn, and Edward Waters will remain in the city and play SUNO at 3 p.m. at Dillard's Dent Hall. Fisk won 72-60 at Dillard on Friday.