Guards lift No. 11 Xavier in OT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Xavier Musketeers have lots of experience, including veteran guards in senior Tu Holloway and junior Mark Lyons.

They sure know how to take over a game at the right time.

Holloway scored 10 of his 24 points in overtime after Lyons tied it up in the final seconds of regulation, and No. 11 Xavier rallied from 10 points down to beat No. 20 Vanderbilt 82-70 on Monday.

"It's all because of my backcourt main man, Tu Holloway," Lyons said. "I love him because of the way he plays. (He's) a killer on the court, and he won the game for us in overtime."

This was the first game against a ranked opponent for both Vanderbilt and Xavier. The Musketeers, who were playing their first road game, improved to 5-0 for the best start yet under third-year coach Chris Mack.

"Them being without (Festus) Ezeli helped us," Mack said of Vandy's senior center, who is out with a sprained right knee. "I am proud of our kids. It is their first game on the road in a very hostile environment."

The Musketeers scored the final four points of regulation, including Lyons' short jumper with 6.5 seconds left to tie it at 66 and force overtime. Dezmine Wells hit two free throws, and Holloway knocked down two 3-pointers to cap a 12-0 run ending with 2:27 remaining in overtime that put Xavier up, 74-66.

Lyons had 19 points for Xavier, and Travis Taylor added 11.

John Jenkins had 20 points to lead Vanderbilt, which had two chances to pull out the victory in regulation. Lance Goulbourne and Jeffery Taylor had 18 apiece. The Commodores (5-2) went cold after Jenkins' 3-pointer with 3:56 left in regulation put Vandy up, 66-62. They didn't score again until Jenkins' jumper with 2:17 left in overtime.