The Gold Rush are 9-0 for the first time since the 1983-84 season and the second time since World War II. XU has 13 consecutive regular-season victories and an 11-game win streak at The Barn.

    Consecutive 3-point plays by Montrelle Taylor fueled a 14-0 spurt which gave Talladega (5-6) a 57-55 lead with 6:11 remaining. But Xavier closed with a 13-4 run that included 11 free throws in 14 attempts. Simmons' two free throws at 3:32 put the Rush ahead to stay at 61-59.

    Devin Andrew scored all 12 of his points in the second half for Xavier -- he led the Rush with five points in the closing run -- and Michael Harvey scored 11, including a season-best three 3-pointers. Simmons' double-double was his second of the season.

    Kerry Harvis scored 22 points, and Taylor added a season-high 16 for Talladega, which dropped its third straight.

    Xavier outshot Talladega 50 to 17 percent from the floor, and Simmons had 13 points en route to XU's 38-27 halftime lead. The Gold Rush finished at 42 percent -- Talladega at 27.9 -- and Xavier had a 45-36 rebound advantage.

    Talladega, playing the sixth of 12 consecutive road games and its third in five days, lost three players to fouls.