Our Pioneers were back at the Beck Center, in Lexington Kentucky, for their first home game in 2023. Continuing their conference play they faced the Earlham college Quakers for the first time this season where the Pios look to start the year undefeated. The Pioneers did in fact start the year off right winning 85-78.

In the first half our Pioneers started hot, scoring the first basket by hitting the hot hand, Simon Smith who is coming off a 20 point night at Franklin, last game.  Colby Napier was next to impact the game with a tough box out on their center which led to a Napier trailing 3 setting the mood for the game. An early substitution was senior Luke Schroeder who came in, immediately affecting the game getting to the free throw line then positioning himself to put Earlham's starting center in foul trouble. Defending the 3 ball continues to be a problem for the Pioneers where at the half allowing the Quakers to hit a half court shot to end up 39-35 at half. Suffocating defense leading to turnovers gave us the lead forcing 12 in just the first.     

In the second half the intensity and physicality carried over from the first as both teams kept it competitive where it was impacted by committee. Early in the second half multiple Pios got on the scorecard where we were able to extend to 9 as Earlham was given a technical foul. Jaylan Green came to life in the second as the leading scorer for the Pioneers having 24 with a momentum saving block to secure the demeanor of the Pios. This being our team's best free throw percentage game all year going 21-25, 84% kept our lead.  Four players for the Pioneers were in double digits at the end where solid end of game defense combined with execution resulting in the 85-78 Win for the Pioneers! 

• Jaylan Green: 24 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks.

• Colby Napier: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists.

• Simon Smith: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 100% 3pt. 

• Hunter Penn: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist. 

Meaningful minutes seems to be a trend so far with the coaching staff ready to sub in and out players who will do what they say and follow the game plan. The best example of this would be the use of Schroeder who isn't filling out the stat sheet but is impacting by making winning plays. Continually outscoring teams in points in the paint has shown how stacking up easy buckets helps late in the game where you can run your offense as you always do instead of having to hoist up bad shots.

Head Coach Brian Lane had this to say after the win:

"We have been waiting for an offensive breakout game and this was it. The emphasis since the break was to spend a lot more time in the gym getting up shots and gaining some confidence. It was great to see so many guys playing with complete confidence. We must continue to reduce the number of turnovers and keep people off the glass."