KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Josh Richardson scored 12 points and Tennessee used a 19-3 second-half run to beat Xavier 51-47 on Saturday.
The Volunteers (8-3) trailed 33-23 early in the second half before holding the Musketeers (7-5) without a field goal for more than 10 minutes.
Derrick Reese knocked down a 3-pointer with 8:14 left to give Tennessee a 38-35 lead. It was the Vols' first lead since being ahead 7-6 at the 12-minute mark of the first half.
Xavier cut Tennessee's lead to 44-43 with just over two minutes remaining on Travis Taylor's layup, but a lay-in by Jordan McRae and five free throws by Trae Golden preserved the Tennessee victory.
The Musketeers took a 25-21 halftime lead.
Tennessee held Xavier to 32.7 percent (18 of 55) shooting. The Vols shot 38.8 percent (19 of 49), but were just 3 of 20 from 3-point range, continuing their season-long struggles from beyond the arc.
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