NEW ORLEANS — Jeremy Lee, scoring in double figures for the first time in 10 games, had a career-high-tying 15 points Monday to help NAIA No. 11 Xavier University of Louisiana defeat Mobile 69-63 in a game filled with fouls and free throws.
The victory was the fifth in a row for Xavier (19-2) and its 17th straight at The Barn. The Gold Rush have Louisiana’s longest current win streak in men’s basketball.
Anthony Simmons added 13 points for Xavier, which took the lead for good in the fourth minute and led 36-26 at halftime. Lee scored 11 points and Simmons eight in the first half.
Donte Walker scored 22 points, 18 in the second half, and Matthew Turner had 13 for Mobile (9-9).
There were 63 personal fouls called, 33 on Xavier. Mobile made 31-of-43 free throws — Walker was 15-of-16 — and Xavier made 26-of-38. Both teams shot 26 free throws in the second half.
The Gold Rush outshot the Rams 54.1 to 33.3 percent from the floor. It was the third time in four games and the 11th time this season that Xavier shot 50 percent or better.
Mobile, down 55-42 with 10:35 remaining, closed to 63-60 on Brock Dockery’s basket with 1:10 to play. But Xavier sealed the victory by making 6-of-11 free throws thereafter.
Xavier exceeded its victory total of last season, when the Gold Rush were 18-13. This is the first Gold Rush team to start 19-2 since 2003-04. Including a 4-1 finish last season, Xavier has won 23 of its last 26 games.
Xavier will travel to city rival SUNO for a 7 p.m. Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game on Saturday.
