LEXINGTON, Ky.—A Pioneer defense that forced 19 turnovers and four players in double-figures helped Transylvania hold off Rose-Hulman 71-60 Saturday in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup at the Clive M. Beck Center.
Parker Stansberry and Alex Jones combined to score the first nine Pioneer points, and the Transylvania University defense scored 20 points off of 19 Rose-Hulman turnovers to secure the 11-point victory.
Stansberry opened the game with a jumper from behind-the-arc to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead. Jones added five quick points, and Stansberry scored another basket to put Transylvania up 9-2 before Rose-Hulman was forced to take a timeout just 2:49 seconds into the game.
"I really liked the way we came out at the beginning of the game and competed," said head coach Brian Lane. "We were able to get some really good shots early in the game. Alex Jones was solid on the defensive end and made some passes to lead to baskets."
After the Engineers closed to within 14-11 with 13:50 remaining in the first half, the Pioneers went on an 11-2 run over the next 3:31 to open a 25-13 lead midway through the first half. After Rose-Hulman closed to within seven at 28-21, baskets by Mason Monroe and Tristan Burgess ran the lead back to 12 at 33-21.
Although the Engineers closed the half on a 7-0 run, the Pioneers led 33-28 at the half, and Rose-Hulman would get no closer than two points the remainder of the game.
In the second half, Rose-Hulman closed to within 40-38, but four straight points by Monroe pushed the Pioneer lead to 44-38, and Transylvania finally managed to open up some breathing room in the last two minutes as a technical was called on the Engineer bench.
"I felt like it was Mason's best game since returning from injury. I was pleased we were able to play well without Sam Sergeant, who is nursing an injury," Lane said.
Following the technical free throws, Tim Bickel was fouled and converted two free throws to give the Pioneers a 62-52 cushion with just 1:49 remaining. Transylvania converted their free throws late, hitting 77 percent (24-of-31) from the charity stripe in the game.
In the end, the Pioneers held on for the 71-60 victory and improved to 8-9, 5-5 HCAC on the year.
For the game, four Pioneers finished in double-figures as Stansberry led all scorers with 16 points along with nine rebounds. Jones finished with 15 points, and Monroe and Bickel scored 11 points each. Rose-Hulman (10-7, 6-4 HCAC) was led by Jimmy Miller's 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Transylvania returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Earlham College at 7:30 p.m.