Box Score

HANOVER, Ind. - Brandon Rash scored a team high 21 points Wednesday, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 3:42 to play, as Transylvania rallied for a 74-65 win over Hanover in men's Heartland Conference basketball action.

The Pioneers (22-2, 16-1), winners of 11straight games, came into the contest ranked 14th in the country and have already clinched the HCAC regular season crown while the Panthers (16-7, 12-5) have locked up the No. 2 seed. Both teams have a bye into the semifinals of the Heartland Conference Tournament next week.

Transy came into the contest ranked No. 4 in the region while Hanover was No. 7.

Transy led from the opening buzzer through the first five minutes of the second half before the Panthers rallied, going ahead for the first time at the 15:03 mark, 47-45. Hanover maintained a lead of as many as six until Transy's Chris Owens converted a layup for a 59-59 tie with 4:20 to go.

Rash, who hit eight of 14 field goal attempts to go with four rebounds, put in his three at the 3:42 mark, making it 62-61 Pioneers. That sparked a 15-4 run to end the game for the Pioneers, who hit 10 of 13 free throws to close out the victory.

Transy has posted the best record through 24 games since the 2000-01 team won 26 of 27 regular season games. The 16-1 HCAC mark is also a school record, topping the previous high of 13-3.

Ethan Spurlin had 17 points for the Pioneers and Owens added 14. Barrett Meyer had 13 points and five boards. Transy canned 24 of 49 shots for 49 percent while the Panthers connected on 25 of 55 for 45 percent. Drake Hendricks had 21 points for the Panthers to tie Rash for game high.

Rash now has 936 career points.

Transy's starters accounted for all but four points Wednesday.

Although the Pioneers led throughout the first half, carving out a margin of as many as 13 (32-19 at the 5:30 mark), the Panthers were within two, 36-34, at intermission when they scored the final eight points in the period. Meyer led Transy with 11 points, including three of five from long range, and Rash added nine of his own.

Transy shot 50 percent in the opening half, but Hanover was even hotter, canning 56.5 percent (13 of 23). Transy was six of 14 from three-point land while Hanover was three of 12. Ryan Nowicki and Mike Case paced the Panthers, each scoring 11 first-half points.

Transy wraps up regular season play Saturday at Bluffton. The Pioneers will look for their first Heartland Conference tournament championship since 2009 when they host the tournament Feb. 24-26 at the Beck Center. Transy will play on Saturday at 7 p.m. against the winner of the game between the No. 4 and No. 5 seed. The championship contest is set for Sunday at 2 p.m.