Franklin, Ind. – Utilizing a timely 21-2 run midway through the second half, the Transylvania men's basketball team pulled away from the Franklin College Grizzlies for an 84-69 victory Wednesday evening at the Spurlock Center.

Transylvania picked up its seventh conference win of the season, moving to 12-4 overall and 7-2 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play while the Grizzlies dropped to 4-12 overall, and 3-6 in conference play.

After a tightly contested game through the first 29 minutes of competition, junior forward Kyle Gullett hit a layup to give the Pioneers a 53-52 advantage at the 10:15 mark of the second half. The score catalyzed a 12-0 run for Transylvania that witnessed sophomore guard Gabe Schmitt knocking down two three-pointers and Gullett hitting a triple as well.

After Franklin stemmed the run with a layup, Gullett hit another three-pointer to grow the lead to 66-54 with under eight minutes to go in the contest. A layup from freshman guard Devin Twenty, two made free throws from freshman guard Michael Jefferson, and a layup from sophomore guard Spencer McKinney on three consecutive possessions put the Pioneers in front, 72-54 as the game grew suddenly out of reach.

Junior guard Cooper Theobald achieved his first double-double of the season in the victory, scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds. Schmitt matched Theobald's scoring with a 4-for-8 night from outside to finish with 16 points.

All five starters registered double-figure scoring for the Pioneers on Wednesday as senior forward Robert Dence scored 14, Gullett registered 12, and Jefferson finished with 10.

Transylvania stymied Franklin on the boards, hauling in 50 rebounds to the Grizzlies' 30.

The Pioneers return to action this Saturday, January 20 as they host the Bluffton University Beavers in the second game of a women's and men's doubleheader from Lexington. Tipoff between Transylvania and Bluffton is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. from the Clive M. Beck Center.

For more on Transylvania men's basketball, follow @TransyHoops on Twitter