Jan. 23, 2008

SHREVEPORT, La. -- Mark Stewart scored four points in the final minute of overtime Wednesday (Jan. 23) to help NAIA No. 18 Xavier University of Louisiana rally for a 75-72 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory over No. 3 LSU-Shreveport.

With the loss, there are only three remaining undefeated teams in NAIA Division I.

Alfred Williams scored a career-high 21 points, and Kelechi Okoroha had 20 for the Gold Rush (15-4 overall, 5-2 GCAC), which gave LSUS (17-1, 6-1) its first loss of the season.

Xavier's defense shut out the Pilots after Travis Cash's basket gave LSUS a 72-70 lead with 1:30 remaining in overtime. Stewart's basket with a minute remaining tied the score at 72, then Okoroha made the first of two free throws with 20 seconds remaining to put Xavier ahead to stay, 73-72.

Stewart rebounded Clarke Jackson's missed shot in the final seconds, was fouled and made two free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining for the final points. The Pilots' Josh Porter then missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Xavier led 36-32 at halftime, and the teams were tied 64 after regulation. There was no second-half scoring after Jamon Morris made two free throws with 1:59 remaining. The Pilots' Jared Stevenson missed a layup as time expired in regulation.

Cash scored 27 points for LSUS, which had beaten Xavier six consecutive times, including three victories this past season.