The Stallions rolled into New Orleans with confidence packed neatly in the travel bags. History had been kind in this building—the last time North American stepped onto this floor, they walked out with a win, and in the most recent meeting with Xavier (La.), it was the Stallions celebrating at the final horn. With that backdrop, belief was high and expectations followed as North American took the floor inside the Convocation Center on Saturday afternoon.
Xavier (La.) reminded everyone why the Convocation Center can be a tough road barn, pulling away late for a 95–81 final. North American stayed within striking distance for much of the afternoon, trailing just 39–33 at the break before Xavier found another gear in the second half. The Gold Rush shot efficiently from the floor and the arc, using a balanced attack and timely buckets to create separation down the stretch.
For the Stallions, Jamarric Hammond once again put on the hard hat and went to work. Hammond poured in 23 points, added five rebounds, three assists, and four steals, and applied nonstop pressure on the defensive end. He officially finished 2-for-6 from three, though film review shows a different story, with one more long ball falling than the box score credits. Either way, the impact was undeniable. His motor never cools, his effort never wavers, and his Champion of Character approach is among the very best in the nation. Hammond's complete performance is why he stands as North American's nominee for RRAC Player of the Week and USCAA Athlete of the Week.
Oakley Lewis gave the Stallions a spark off the bench with a flawless shooting night, going 7-for-7 from the field and 5-for-5 at the line for 20 points, providing instant offense and energy. Joseph Cormier chipped in 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Naheim Northern added 12 points and battled inside against a physical Xavier front line.
North American shot 54.4% from the floor and shared the ball well with 18 assists, but Xavier countered with hot perimeter shooting and capitalized at the free-throw line to maintain control in the final minutes.
The Stallions will take the lessons from this road test, tighten the screws, and keep pushing forward as conference play continues. One thing remains constant: this group competes, plays with purpose, and represents North American University the right way—every possession, every trip, every time.
