SUNO Knights Outpace Xavier With a Commanding 82-78 Victory

NEW ORLEANS, LA - The SUNO Knights delivered a thrilling performance on Wednesday night, securing an 82-78 victory against their rivals Xavier at The Castle. The Men's Basketball team showed resilience and strategic prowess throughout the regular season finale, improving their record to 11-16, their best record since the 2013-14 season.

With the game tipping off fiercely, Xavier momentarily took the lead, but SUNO quickly adjusted, ending the first half ahead with a narrow margin of 39-35. Jamal Gibson led the charge for the Knights, not just on the scoreboard but also across the court with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists. His well-rounded display was complemented by Tyon Thompson and Tony White, each executing critical plays that extended SUNO's lead, especially in the second half.

The game reached a climax as Xavier attempted to close the gap, but the Knights' fortitude was displayed defensively, maintaining the lead until the final buzzer sounded at 82-78. Apart from Gibson, additional key performances included Tyon Thompson with 15 points and 3 steals, and Donte Briggs, who also added 15 points to the team's total.

Gibson, who notched his 54th double-double in 55 games played, commented on the team's performance, saying, "We played great. We played great defense. We slacked up a little at the end, but we weathered the storm."

Donte Briggs added, "This game was personal for me. We had to win this game coming off a losing streak, and we needed it going into the conference tournament."

Tyon Thompson shared his enthusiasm, "The game was all worth the hype, but we really wanted to finish the season strong going into our conference tournament. We did that, so I'm ready for conference play."

Coach praised the team's resilience, stating, "I feel like we played well. They showed toughness and they showed resilience. I'm happy with that. Xavier is a heck of a team, and I'm happy with how we performed. Tonight highlighted our defense and especially our free throws. We made them when they counted and that was a big difference. Everyone played well and it took morale through the roof. We needed a game like this and as we head into the HBCUAC tournament, I'm expecting to see a hungry team."

Looking ahead, the Knights are now focusing on the upcoming conference tournament, drawing from their recent triumph to propel them forward.