NEW ORLEANS – Ryan Imhoff scored a game-high 16 points and had a career-high 11 assists while Zach Taylor added 14 and Steve Helm III scored 12 to lead No. 6 Carroll to a 76-60 road win over Xavier University of Louisiana Monday night at the Convocation Center in New Orleans.
 
The Saints started the game on a 13-3 run, highlighted by five points from Taylor, the blistering pace would not hold and XULA battled back to take a 22-21 lead with 5:07 left in the first half.
 
Carroll closed the half with six-straight points to lead 32-26 at the break. The Saints would continue the run in the second to build a 50-30 lead.
 
Carroll led 54-76 with 1:40 left in the game on a pair of Helm free throws but the Gold Rush closed the game on a 6-0 run to cut the margin of victory to 16 points.
 
The Saints shot 25-44 (56.8 percent) from the field and tallied 19 assists on those 25 made shots. Carroll was also very efficient from the line hitting 23-28 (82.1 percent).
 
Jalen David scored 16 points to lead Xavier and Donovan Armstrong had eight assists. The Gold Rush was 23-54 (42.6 percent) from the field but struggled from the line hitting just 9-17(52.9 percent).
 
"This was a tough contest against a deep, strong team," head coach Carson Cunningham said. "The fellas' ability to share the rock and execute against Xavier's defense was impressive. The Gold Rush is a game outfit. Now we have another challenge in Mobile (Ala.) on Dec. 21."
 
The Saints are now 10-1 on the year while Xavier falls to 3-7 after opening the season at No. 25.
 
Carroll continues their Gulf Coast trip Wednesday against the University of Mobile. The game is slated for 6 p.m. MST.