GAME 4

Transylvania (2-1, 0-0 HCAC) vs Defiance (1-5, 0-1 HCAC)

Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 | 1 PM | Lexington, Ky. (Clive M. Beck Center) - Hall of Fame Day

Audio: none | Video | Live Stats

HALL OF FAME DAY
Transylvania hosts Defiance on Hall of Fame Day at 1 PM to tip off the Men's and Women's doubleheader versus the Yellow Jackets. The legendary Don Lane will be doing a book signing for his book "The Lane Way: Family, Faith, and Fifty Years in Basketball" from 12:15-5:15 PM. You can get your copy at this link or at the game for $30. 

Transylvania University will honor its 2023 Pioneer Hall of Fame inductees during a banquet Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Campus Center.

This year's inductees include the 2011-13 men's golf teams (both squads finished second in the nation), All-American swimmer Melinda (Clyde) Greenwood '04 and coach Jack G. "Jay" Lucas Jr. '83.

"These inductees exemplify how Pioneers of the past have not only helped us build the successful programs we have today, but have also made positive impacts in the community," said Vice President of Athletics Holly Sheilley. "We're grateful for their contributions to Transylvania Athletics and celebrate their amazing achievements."

Sheilley and Assistant Athletics Director Kevin Calhoun will present the awards, and President Brien Lewis will kick off Saturday's ceremony with a welcome message. The registration deadline has passed for the event.

2023 Pioneer Hall of Fame inductees

2011-13 GOLF TEAMS

The Transylvania men's golf teams of 2011-12 and 2012-13 were back-to-back national powerhouses, establishing a tradition of success that continues today — this year's team won its 15th conference title in 16 years.

The 2011-12 national runners-up notched their best showing in six previous tournament appearances. After the strong finish, coach Brian Lane was optimistic. "This performance is a great confidence-builder heading into next season," he said at the time. 

His team certainly played with confidence during 2012-13. The Pioneers had a two-stroke lead over Texas Tyler heading into the final round of the NCAA championship, but came up just shy of a national crown.

Members of these teams are still making an impact in the golf world. Justin Tereshko '12, for example, is head coach of the Eastern Kentucky University men's team — and he recently won the Kentucky Amateur Championship and qualified for the 123rd U.S. Amateur.

Individual golfers

Blake Atkinson '13
Colin Bussell '13
Hunter Cloud '16
James Dawson '12
Ben Fister '15
Hunter Frazier '13
Casey Gilligan '16

Eli Glass '12
Nicholas Hall '13
Jacob Hamilton '16
Clay Hinton '14
Darrin Laswell '16
Jantzen Latham '14
Michael Martin '15

Nicholas McCarthy '16
Jeffrey Meade '16
Stephen Montgomery '13
Evan Shelley '16
Logan Specht '16
Justin Tereshko '12
Harry Watts '13

MELINDA (CLYDE) GREENWOOD '04

One of the most celebrated swimmers in school history, Greenwood was named an All-American her junior and senior years and Pioneer Athlete of the Year in 2004. Her successes include setting school backstroke records and finishing national runner-up in the 200 backstroke at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship. During both years of competition, she finished in the NAIA tournament's top five in the 100 and 200 backstroke and 50 freestyle.

Greenwood later earned a master's degree in gifted and talented education and now oversees gifted programs for Cincinnati-area school districts.

JACK G. "JAY" LUCAS JR. '83

Lucas, who was an assistant under legendary coach Don Lane at Transylvania, went on to lead Woodford County middle and high school girl's basketball squads as well as the boys baseball team. 

Now an assistant coach for the Midway University women's basketball team, Lucas has amassed an impressive list of achievements over the past four decades. The 30th all-time winningest coach in Kentucky history, he led the Yellow Jackets high school squad to nine district championships and was named 2005 Coach of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.

Lucas' baseball teams earned a 410-282 record over 28 years, winning five district championships along the way. He was inducted into the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010.
 

LAST TIME OUT

Transylvania improved to 2-1 on the season with a six point win verus Wheaton College. The Pioneers shot 47% from the floor and had three players finish with 10 or more points in the win. Jaylan Green finished with 18 to lead all scorers. It was the 353rd win of Head Coach Brian Lane's career.  FULL RECAP | BOX SCORE

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS

Transy returns twelve players from last season's team, with their starting five all returning. Leading scorer from last season Jaylan Green returns for his senior season and finished last season with 14.2 points per game. Junior Colby Napier averaged almost 30 minutes per game last season and was second on the team in scoring at 13.8 points per game. His 60 made three point shots led all Transy scorers last season. 

Junior Hunter Penn finished last season with a team 189 rebounds and 18 blocks and is poised to make an impact once defense on the glass again this season. Senior Simon Smith was second on the team in rebounds last season with 15 and averaged 9.4 points per game last season. Dakota Capps is back for his sophomore campaign and was second on the team in assists with 3.1 last season. Expect to see more of Matthew Teague this season, who started in seven games last year and gave Transy quality minutes off of the bench (608 total).

Transylvania was voted fourth in the 2023-24 HCAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning two first place votes.

TU defeated Centre College on the road in dramatic fashion to open the season as Jaylan Green's 27 point performance was topped off with a game winning layup with 2.1 seconds left as Transy earned their 41st all time win over the Colonels. They dropped their home opener to a very good Elmhurst team before bouncing back with a 6 point win over Wheaton. Transylvania used a strong first half to distance themselves from a Thunder comeback. 

LOOKING AT THE YELLOW JACKETS

Defiance College announced earlier this year that they will be leaving the HCAC and NCAA to move back to the NAIA beginning the 2024-25 school year. This season will be the final time the two teams will play each other in NCAA and HCAC compeition. 

Defiance sits at 1-5, having lost their last four games. They dropped their HCAC opener to Mount St. Joseph 65-70 this past Wednesday in Cincinnati. 

Junior Landen Swanner leads the Yellow Jackets with 14.6 points per game and field goal percentage (47.8%). 

Defiance is looking to turn things around in Josh Gibson's third season as head coach. The Yellow Jackets are replacing 10 players from last year's team. DC is trying for their first winning season since the 2015-2016 season. 

THE SERIES

Transylvania has been on the winning end of the 44 game history versus Defiance, winning 11 of the last 13 matchups. Transy earned the season sweep against Defiance last year with a 76-62 and 88-76 win. SERIES HISTORY

 

PREVIOUS MATCHUP 

Transylvania defeated Defiance 88-76 at the Clive M. Beck Center last February to improve to 12-9 and 9-5 in the HCAC. Jaylan Green and Colby Napier led the charge as Transy took control of the game in the second half. The Pioneers shot 46% in the win.

THE LANE WAY

Head Coach Brian Lane '90 enters his 23rd season. Lane first started with the Pioneers in the 1990 season when he was an assistant under his father, the legendary Don Lane. He then coached as an assistant for UNC-Charlotte, South Carolina, North Carolina State, Florida Atlantic, and Morehead State before being named Head Coach of Transylvania in 2001.

Since 2001, Lane has led the Pioneers to six NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2020. He was named a Glenn Robinson National Coach of the Year Finalist in 2011-2012 and has earned Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2005-2006. 

Lane has been named HCAC Coach of the Year on four separate occasions, earning the honors in 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2012. He has 353 wins as head coach, earning his 350th last season versus Mount St. Joseph (FULL RECAP) and his 353 wins are second most all time, trailing his legendary father Don Lane who has 509 career wins. 

During his playing career at Transylvania (1986-1990), Lane scored 1,286 points which ranks 30th all time in program history.


HCAC ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS

Jaylan Green was named the HCAC Athlete of the Week for week two for his 27 point performance over Centre College. He is the first Pioneer to earn the honors this season. 
 

TRANSY STATS N' STREAKS

• Transylvania has reached the HCAC postseason tournament in nine straight seasons, last winning the tournament during the 2019-20 season.
• The Pioneers have not recorded a losing season since the 2015-2016 season (the 2020-21 season was shortened due to Covid)
• Transy ranked third in the HCAC last season in scoring, averaging 75.6 points per game. 
• Jaylan Green has reached double digits in every game this season.
• Hunter Penn leads the team with 25 total rebounds
• Transy has won 9 of the last 10 versus Defiance

UP NEXT

Transylvania hosts Frankin College this upcoming Wednesday for a 7:30 PM matchup. 

 

2023-24 HCAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

1.	Anderson University (5)	80
2.	Manchester University (2)	67
3.	Hanover College (1)	66
4.	Transylvania University (2)	65
5.	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	50
6.	Franklin College	38
7.	Mount St. Joseph University	36
8.	Earlham College	23
9.	Bluffton University	18
10.	Defiance College	12

 

2023-24 Men's Basketball Standings

SCHOOL	CONF	CPCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	STREAK
Mount St. Joseph	1-0	1.000	1-5	.167	W1
Anderson	0-0	.000	4-1	.800	W1
Manchester	0-0	.000	2-1	.667	W1
Transylvania	0-0	.000	2-1	.667	W1
Bluffton	0-0	.000	2-2	.500	W1
Hanover	0-0	.000	3-3	.500	L2
Rose-Hulman	0-0	.000	2-3	.400	L3
Franklin	0-0	.000	2-4	.333	L1
Defiance	0-1	.000	1-5	.167	L4
Earlham	0-0	.000	0-5	.000	L5

2023-24 HCAC Athletes to Watch
 

Transylvania

Name	Class	Hometown	Position
Hunter Penn	JR	Versailles, Ky.	Forward
Colby Napier	JR	Hindman, Ky.	Guard
Simon Smith	SR	Louisville, Ky.	Forward
Dakota Capps	SO	Louisville, Ky.	Guard