Box Score N. MANCHESTER, Ind. - Transylvania's Ashley Hatfield (Pikeville, Ky.) had 14 points and seven rebounds Friday and Barrett Meyer (Frankfort, Ky.) and Ethan Spurlin (Stanford, Ky.) added 11 points each as the Pioneers took down Rose-Hulman 54-49 in first-round action in the Heartland Conference men's basketball tournament.

Transy is 18-8 overall after defeating Rose-Hulman for the second time this year, while the Engineers are 16-10. The Pioneers were the No. 4 seed in the tourney while Rose-Hulman was No. 5. Transy plays HCAC regular season champion Manchester Saturday at 7 p.m. in the HCAC semifinals. The HCAC championship contest will be played Sunday at 2 p.m. with the winner earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.

Transy forged a nine-point lead midway through the first half, the largest lead for either team. The Pioneers never trailed in the contest.

Transy led by three, 23-20, at halftime.

The Pioneers finished the game shooting 42 percent for the game, compared to 33 percent for Rose-Hulman. Transy overcame 2 of 10 shooting from three-point range by converting 20 of 27 from the free throw line. The Engineers were 4 of 12 from long range, but just 13 of 19 from the line.

Spurlin had six rebounds and two assists for the Pioneers while Brandon Rash (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) and Mike Satterwhite (Frankfort, Ky.) each pitched in seven points. Satterwhile also had four boards.

Austin Weatherford had 18 points and seven rebounds for the Engineers while Julian Stickland added 13 points.

Transy is looking for its first post-season appearance since 2009.