LEXINGTON, KY — Transylvania advanced to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament semifinals with an 88–79 win over Berea on Saturday afternoon inside the Clive M. Beck Center.

Luke Idlett led the Pioneers with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting from three-point range, while Hunter Barr posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double. Drew Marshall added 15 points, five rebounds, and two steals. Ian Reesor contributed nine points and five assists, and J.C. Walbert provided a lift off the bench with nine points on three made threes. Dakota Capps finished with four points and four assists, while Justin Bibb and Jake Fithian each knocked down late three-pointers as the Transylvania bench totaled 23 points.

Transylvania opened the game on a 5–0 run behind a Barr layup and an Idlett three. After Berea tied the contest, the Pioneers responded with a 15–3 surge sparked by back-to-back three-pointers from Reesor and a three-point play from Marshall. Walbert added a pair of threes midway through the half to push the lead into double figures, and late triples from Reesor and Cayden Lancaster helped the Pioneers take a 44–32 lead into halftime.

Idlett caught fire early in the second half, hitting three consecutive three-pointers to stretch the margin to 55–37. Minutes later, a fast-break layup from Marshall extended the lead to 22 points — Transylvania's largest advantage of the night. Berea made a push behind Bryce Riley's scoring in the final minutes, but the Pioneers maintained control with key baskets from Barr, Walbert, Fithian, Bibb, and Smith to close out the 88–79 victory.

With the win, Transylvania improves to 18–8 and 15–4 in HCAC play and advances to the HCAC Tournament semifinals.

Transylvania will face off against Franklin in the HCAC Semifinal at the Clive M. Beck Center on Friday, February 27.

Transylvania University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Stay updated at transysports.com and follow @TransySports on Instagram.