CINCINNATI (AP) — Kyle Fuller scored a career-high 25 points, including all 12 of Vanderbilt's overtime points, as the Commodores outlasted Xavier for a 66-64 win on Thursday night.
Fuller gave Vanderbilt (3-4) the lead for good at 61-60 on a leaner with 1:26 left in the game. He was fouled and missed the free throw, but he followed up by being fouled while scoring on a driving layup and making the free throw for a 64-60 lead with 1:10 left. His two free throws with 14.9 seconds left were the difference.
Kedren Johnson scored 19 points and Kevin Bright added 11 with 10 rebounds for Vanderbilt, which had lost four of its last five games and all six of its previous games against Xavier.
The Commodores won despite making just 13 of 25 free throws.
Travis Taylor scored 15 points to lead four Musketeers in double figures. Justin Martin added 13 and Stephon Christon finished with 12 for Xavier (6-2), which suffered its first loss in four home games. Xavier was almost as bad as Vanderbilt on free throws, making just 9 of 17.
Isaiah Philmore, a Towson transfer making his first career start for Xavier, had a double-double and set season highs with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker and coach Billy Hatcher were on hand for the game, sitting in the first row behind the scorer's table.
Martin scored 10 points and Xavier shot 53.8 percent from the field (14 of 26) while leading by as many as eight points in the first half before settling for a 33-27 halftime lead.
Johnson, who went into the game leading the Commodores with an average of 16.7 points, scored 12 in the half and had four steals to help keep Vanderbilt in the game.
Taylor scored the first seven points of the second half to give Xavier a 40-27 lead. The Commodores committed two turnovers and missed their first three shots from the field before Johnson connected on a 3-pointer with 15:50 left in the game.
