Box Score

LEXINGTON, Ky.- Ethan Spurlin scored a game-high 23 points and Brandon Rash added 22 of his own to lead no. 18 Transylvania to an 89-76 win over Earlham in men's Heartland Conference basketball action at the Beck Center on Wednesday.
 
Spurlin pulled down five rebounds and dished out four assists on the night, leading the Pioneers (18-2, 12-1 HCAC) to their seventh straight victory. Earlham (0-20, 0-13 HCAC) was led by Ryan Taylor, who scored 19 points on 5-for-6 shooting from three-point range.
 
Barrett Meyer (12 points), Chris Owens (11) and Tate Cox (10) rounded out the Pioneer scorers in double figures. Ashley Hatfield was also solid, adding nine points and four rebounds for Transy, who is a perfect 11-0 at home this season.

The Pioneers used a 16-2 advantage in the paint to take a 38-30 lead at halftime, but shot just 5-for-15 from three-point range. "We thought we were shooting too many threes," said head coach Brian Lane. "We made it a point to move the ball inside in the second half."

Transy shot a staggering 18-for-24 after the break, largely on shots inside the arc (3-for-4 from three-point range). In all, the Pioneers shot 63 percent (34-for-54) from the floor and outscored the Quakers in the paint 44-16.

Spurlin and Rash, who both entered the contest averaging 16.9 points per game, continued to shine. They are now tied for second in the HCAC in scoring per game.
 
"It's a tough matchup when both of those guys are in there at the same time, which is a lot. They're doing a nice job playing together. They're the heart and soul of our team," Lane added.

Transy maintained its lead in the HCAC with the win, and sits one game ahead of Hanover, who is 11-2 in the conference. The Pioneers knocked off the visiting Panthers 72-67 on Jan. 11 and own the tiebreaker if the two teams should finish with identical records.

Transy will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., Saturday to challenge Rose-Hulman. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Transy's final home game is Senior Day on Feb. 11, as the Pioneers host Manchester. A Coaches vs. Cancer event is planned for that day, with prizes, contests, and a silent auction.