NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — Southern-New Orleans defeated Xavier (La.) 69-56 in a men’s NAIA basketball game on Oct. 24, using a fast start and a strong rebounding effort to secure the home victory. The Knights improved to 1-0, while the Gold Rush fell to 0-1. Southern-New Orleans opened with 31 first-quarter points, while Xavier scored 20 in the opening period. The Knights set the pace early and maintained their advantage through the final buzzer.

The decisive stretch came in the first quarter. Southern-New Orleans got early jumpers from Aumad Hackett and Dorian Booker, and Jermaine Lawrence added a 3-pointer and a free throw as the Knights built rhythm. Jaylon Hicks scored on several jumpers and free throws, while Blake Goodman added a 3-pointer. Xavier stayed within striking distance behind Elijah Pichon, who made two 3-pointers in the opening period, and Leon Williams, who closed the quarter with two 3-pointers. Elijah Wilson and Jason Astorga Jr. also connected from beyond the arc for the Gold Rush, but Southern-New Orleans’ first-quarter production gave the Knights a lead they did not surrender. Pichon made jumpers at 19:45 and 18:22, Hackett answered at 19:19, and Booker scored at 17:54 and 16:40. Lawrence made a free throw at 17:33, Hicks scored at 14:27, 11:47 and 10:38, and Lawrence added a 3-pointer at 10:12. Pichon hit 3-pointers at 12:23 and 7:30, Wilson made one at 2:44, and Astorga connected at 2:02. Williams hit 3-pointers at 0:27 and at the end of the quarter.

Southern-New Orleans shot 28 of 52 from the floor and 3 of 13 from three-point range, finishing 8 of 15 from the free-throw line. Xavier shot 22 of 58 overall, 8 of 25 from beyond the arc and 4 of 14 from the line. The Knights held a 43-24 rebounding advantage, including an 8-5 edge on the offensive glass. Southern-New Orleans had 10 assists, four blocks and 20 turnovers, while Xavier had 13 assists, two blocks and 14 turnovers. The Knights committed 17 fouls and the Gold Rush committed 11. Xavier scored 36 points after the first quarter, while Southern-New Orleans added 38.

Key performers in the game included Southern-New Orleans’ Jaylon Hicks, Jermaine Lawrence and Dorian Booker; Xavier’s Leon Williams, Elijah Pichon and Elijah Wilson; Southern-New Orleans’ Brian Duncan and Aumad Hackett; and Xavier’s Jylan Howze and Jason Astorga Jr.

In the second quarter, Elijah Wilson opened with a 3-pointer and a jumper, and Leon Williams added a jumper. Southern-New Orleans answered through Aumad Hackett’s 3-pointer, back-to-back jumpers from Jaylon Hicks and a Brian Duncan jumper. Dorian Booker scored on a jumper and made a free throw as the Knights protected their lead. Xavier’s Dez Perkins made baskets at 12:39 and 7:58 and hit two free throws, while Kingston Jarrell made a free throw and Elijah Pichon hit a 3-pointer at 1:15. Brian Duncan closed the half with a jumper at 0:49 and Jaylon Hicks added a jumper at 0:19.

Southern-New Orleans maintained its advantage through the closing stages with balanced scoring and work on the boards. Xavier cut into the margin at times behind Pichon and Wilson, but the Gold Rush could not close the gap. The Knights finished with more rebounds and blocked shots while overcoming their turnover total. Hicks, Lawrence and Booker continued to provide scoring answers for Southern-New Orleans, and Duncan added frontcourt production. Williams, Pichon and Wilson carried much of Xavier’s offense, with Howze and Astorga also contributing.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Southern-New Orleans 73, Xavier (La.) 70. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Xavier (La.) with a 54 percent probability to win.