Box Score

FRANKLIN, Ind. - Chris Owens and Brandon Rash each pitched in 18 points Wednesday, spurring No. 25 Transylvania to a 73-65 win over Franklin in Heartland Conference men's basketball play.

The HCAC-leading Pioneers are 16-2, 10-1 in conference play, while the Grizzlies are 10-8, 7-4 HCAC. Transy defeated Franklin 76-55 on Jan. 4 in Lexington.

Transy spotted Franklin an early nine-point lead before coming back to take a 42-38 lead at halftime behind 18 points by Owens. The senior guard surpassed his previous season-high in points in the first 20 minutes, canning six of nine shots from the field, including both of his three-point attempts. He was also four of four at the line as Transy outscored the home team 9-4 from the stripe.

Transy hit 65 percent of its shots in the first half compared to 50 percent for Franklin. Rash added nine first-half points.

Rash scored nine of his 18 points in the second half as the Pioneers held off several Franklin rally attempts.Barrett Meyer had 13 of his 15 points in the second period, including four free throws down the stretch as Franklin fouled in a comeback attempt.

Neither team led by more than nine until the closing seconds, when Transy built an 11-point cushion. 

Zach Merschbrock led all scorers with 23 points for Franklin, hitting 11 of 12 shots from the field. Franklin was at 46 percent shooting for the game compared to 54.5 percent for the Pioneers. Transy hit 21 of 24 free throws while the Grizzlies converted 13 of 18. The Pioneers also sank four of nine from three-point range while the home team was six of 16.

Taylor Botkin had nine points and six boards off the bench for Transy. He was perfect in three tries from the field.

Transy returns to the floor on Saurday as the Pioneers host Defiance at 3 p.m. at the Beck Center.