Richmond, Ind. – Lucas Gentry and Zach Larimore put forth another pair of efficient and veteran performances to lead the Transylvania men's basketball team to a 75-68 win over the Earlham College Quakers on Sunday afternoon at Druley Performance Gym.
Embroiled in a close game to the final moments, Gentry and Larimore collaborated to close the door on Earlham to sweep the weekend series as the Pioneers improved to 5-1 against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponents.
Transylvania expanded its season-best winning streak to five games with an outstanding closing time performance at Earlham.
Gentry produced his fourth straight double-double with a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds while Larimore followed with 24 points and nine rebounds on 9 of 13 shooting from the field. Each upperclassman shot 2 for 4 from beyond the arc in guiding the Pioneers to the road win.
After registering a season-high 103 points in Friday's win in Lexington over the Quakers, the Pioneers jumped out to a 10-4 lead on Sunday before the Quakers scored seven straight points to grab an 11-10 advantage, forecasting a closely fought game.
While Earlham converged defensively inside the perimeter to stymie the Pioneers' dribble drive, Transylvania used a three-point advantage to stay close with the Quakers, hitting 4 of 13 triples while Earlham only connected on 1 of 8 threeballs in the first half.
The Pioneers showed off their power on the glass as Gentry, Larimore, and Dominique Turner each grabbed five rebounds in the first half to give the Pioneers a 23-13 rebounding advantage at the half.
Earlham's guards led a consistent attack, starting the day 10 for 21 from the floor for 45 percent, but the Pioneers had the last word in the first half, going on a 13-4 run in the final five and a half minutes of the half to build a 35-31 lead at the break.
Duce Ralls nailed a 3-pointer and Brice Scott powered home a putback on an offensive rebound. Gentry wheeled to the rim for the final field goal of the half and Ralls added a charity toss for the 35-31 halftime lead.
The Pioneers maintained a 46-39 lead four minutes into the second half before Earlham surged for a 10-3 run to grab its first lead of the half at 49-48 with 12:44 to go. Turner quelled the run with an inside score but Earlham scored another five unanswered points to go up 54-50 with 11 minutes left.
It was Transy's turn to respond as Gentry scored on a layup and later hit a triple to give the Pioneers the lead back at 56-54. Transylvania would maintain a one possession lead from the six minute mark until 3:46 remaining in regulation when the Quakers tied the game on a layup for a 64-64 ballgame.
With Transy still leading by a point with 1:40 to go, Turner split a pair of free throws to give the Pioneers a 68-66 lead before the Quakers answered with a midrange jumper on the following possession for another tie at 68-all.
But Earlham's bucket would be its last as Gavin Root found Gentry for a layup and a foul, pushing the Pioneers ahead, 70-68. Though Gentry missed the free throw, Larimore grabbed the offensive rebound and split the free throws for a three-point Pioneer lead.
Earlham missed a game-tying 3-pointer with 43 seconds left and Gentry worked down the shot clock, driving through the lane with 17 seconds to go. The senior's runner fell short but Larimore arrived on time for the offensive rebound and the ensuing putback, giving the Pioneers a five-point advantage with nine seconds left to put the game out of reach for Earlham.
Transylvania outgained Earlham on the glass 43-21 while hitting 17 of 25 free throws compared to a 10 for 11 clip at the line by the Quakers. Turner finished with nine rebounds and score five points in 33 minutes of work.
The Pioneers next play on Friday, February 5 in Franklin, Indiana at the Franklin College Grizzlies. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from the Spurlock Center on the campus of Franklin College. The teams will then rematch the following Sunday, February 7 at the Beck Center in Lexington at 3:00 p.m.
For more on Transylvania men's basketball, follow @TransyHoops on Twitter
