#10 XAVIER TOPS TEXAS WESLEYAN
December 4, 2007

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, LA:  A career-high 23 points from senior guard Fred Eshon was not enough for the Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (3-3) on Tuesday.  The Rams suffered a 63-52 loss at the hands of 10th ranked Xavier University of Louisiana (9-1).

The Gold Rush gained control of the game when they rattled off 12 unanswered points over a five-minute period in the first half taking a 23-11 lead.  Xavier went on to a 25-16 lead at the half.

In the second half, Xavier led by as many as 18, 39-21, when a pair of free throws from Ryan Barnes, and a three-pointer and two more free throws from Fred Eshon finally got the Rams started.

Texas Wesleyan slashed the deficit to single digits at 40-31 midway through the period.  However, the Rams could not close the gap and fell 63-52.

The Gold Rush shot 50% from the field including 6-of-14 (43%) from long range.  The Rams helped themselves by shooting 82% (23-of-28) from the free throw line and out rebounding Xavier 27-23, but they could not overcome a 32% shooting night.

Eshon poured in a career-high 23 points, hitting on 5-of-7 shots including 3-of-4 from long range and adding 10-of-12 from the charity stripe.  Kennith Gober added 12 points after going 8-for-8 from the free throw line.  Mark Stewart led Xavier with 13 points.

The Rams will open Red River Athletic Conference play on Saturday, when they travel to Muskogee, OK, to take on Bacone College.  That game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.