XULA Crosstown Classic: Xavier Sweeps Dillard in Final Home Game

By Nicholas Swain

The XULA Crosstown Classic took center stage at the Convocation Center as Xavier University of Louisiana’s men’s and women’s basketball teams faced crosstown rival Dillard University in their final home game of the season.

XULA and Dillard share the longest-standing basketball rivalry between two New Orleans colleges. This year’s matchup marked the 165th meeting between the teams.

Xavier’s women’s basketball team secured a dramatic 64-63 victory, completing a season sweep of Dillard. Senior point guard Emmia Johnson, a business major, reflected on her final home game.

“For this being my last home game, it felt amazing. My teammates had my back the entire game,” Johnson said. “It was a really close game, but we were able to stay focused and win.”

On the men’s side, Xavier avenged an earlier loss to Dillard with a 66-63 victory, closing out the regular season on a high note. Senior point guard Lance Williams, a mass communication major, described the intensity of the rivalry.

“It’s always a real emotional and fun game for the fans to watch—it’s just electric,” Williams said. “Getting the win against Dillard was a great feeling and the best way I can go out on my senior night.”

Beyond the action on the court, the Crosstown Classic provided a vibrant experience for students. Quincy Jones, a senior biology pre-med major, said the atmosphere made the event special.

“The vibe today was perfect, with food trucks serving chicken quesadillas, snowballs and tacos,” Jones said. “Getting to see Big Freedia and Hasizzle perform was an opportunity to really enjoy ourselves.”

Jones also acknowledged the deep-rooted significance of the rivalry.

“This is what I came to see,” he said. “It’s been an ongoing rivalry between two HBCUs competing against each other but also showing love at the same time.”

Dillard students also came out in full force to support their team. Nigel Giles, Mister Dillard University and a senior biology major, highlighted the excitement surrounding the event.

“Any time Dillard plays Xavier, it’s an exciting event, especially with the music and halftime performances that get the crowd hyped,” Giles said. “Events like this bring more attention to HBCUs—there’s a lot of talent on display.”

Both Xavier teams now turn their focus to the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament.

The women’s team, boasting an impressive 22-2 record, enters as the No. 2 seed and a strong contender for the championship.

“In order for us to win, we need our scorers to be hot and our chemistry to stay strong over the next couple of weeks,” head coach Bo Browder said.

The men’s team, holding an 18-6 record, is chasing its second Red River Conference title since winning in 2023.

“We just gotta keep going hard in every game until the clock hits zero,” Williams said. “The goal is to win the championship before I leave.”

Senior forward Corey Duney, a biology pre-med major, emphasized the importance of the rivalry and the team’s determination.

“We always love the Dillard game,” Duney said. “It brings the community together, it’s always a tough game, but we enjoy the competition. We like playing against Dillard.”