LEXINGTON, KY — Transylvania earned a key conference win on Wednesday night, defeating Berea College 91–77 inside the Clive M. Beck Center in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup.
The Pioneers showcased balanced scoring with four players reaching double figures, led by Ian Reesor's 17 points. Drew Marshall added 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Luke Idlett knocked down five three-pointers.
Transylvania opened the game on a 5–0 run before Berea responded to tie the score. The momentum quickly swung back to the Pioneers as Reesor, Hunter Barr, and Marshall threw down consecutive dunks to make it 11–5 at the 15-minute mark. The game remained tight through much of the first half, with Transylvania holding a narrow 36–32 lead entering the final three minutes. Idlett buried another three to extend the advantage to 43–34, but Berea closed the period on a 5–0 burst to trim the halftime margin to 43–39. Marshall led Transylvania with 11 first-half points.
The second half began similarly, with Transylvania holding a slim 50–43 lead before Jaxon Smith provided a spark with five straight points. Marshall added a layup, and Idlett connected from deep to push the lead back to double digits. Reesor then scored the next five points as the Pioneers finally broke the game open. J.C. Walbert later knocked down three free throws to extend the lead to 15, and Transylvania carried a 65–53 advantage into the final 10 minutes. Reesor's layup made it 80–65 with five minutes to play, and the Pioneers held firm down the stretch to complete the season sweep of Berea with a 91–77 victory.
With the win, Transylvania improves to 13–8 overall and 10–4 in HCAC play.
Key Stats:
- Transylvania outscored Berea 16–11 in second-chance points
- Transylvania held a 14–7 advantage in points off turnovers
- Transylvania edged Berea 32–30 in points in the paint
Transylvania returns home on Saturday, February 7, 2026, to face Bluffton University. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.
Transylvania University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. To keep up to date with all Transylvania Athletics coverage, visit transysports.com and follow @TransySports on Instagram.
