Lexington, Ky. – Brandon Cromwell scored the final five points of the night, including a go-ahead three-point play to lead the Transylvania men's basketball team to a scintillating 69-68 victory over the Asbury University Eagles on Saturday evening at the Clive M. Beck Center.
Cromwell completed a furious come-from-behind effort for the Pioneers, who erased an 18-point second half deficit against the Eagles to remain undefeated at 3-0 overall this season. Asbury dropped to 1-5 with the loss.
Cromwell finished the night with a season-high 16 points on 5 for 10 shooting from the field as the Pioneers grinded out their second game-winning result of the season coming by one point on a go-ahead score with six seconds or less this season.
Zach Larimore had a stellar effort with a game-high 25 points and galvanized the comeback for the Pioneers with a pinpoint 12 for 18 shooting night from the field.
After a back and forth opening stanza, the Eagles caught fire from downtown in the first half, connecting on 9 of 16 three-point attempts to clinch a 43-29 halftime advantage. Larimore posted 13 points in the first half on 6 of 9 shooting to help the Pioneers keep pace, while Hunter Penn corralled nine of his game-high 17 rebounds in the first half.
Larimore and Cromwell kickstarted the comeback effort in the second half with corresponding buckets but Asbury's high efficiency offense continued as the Eagles scored on a collection of outside jumpers and fast break points. Following an Eagles layup with 14:54 left in regulation, Asbury assumed a 53-35 advantage.
The Pioneers continued to nip at the heels of the Eagles, and Cromwell rose to the occasion with a pair of free throws and a three-point basket to slice Transy's deficit to 62-52 with seven and a half minutes left. Cromwell fought his way to the foul line again and sank two more charity shots to cut Asbury's lead to 62-54 at the 6:52 mark of the second half.
Cromwell and Larimore continued to lead the charge as the junior Cromwell grabbed an offensive rebound and found the senior forward for a second chance score to draw the Pioneers within five of the Eagles at 64-59 with over four minutes to go.
Larimore canned another jumper with under four minutes remaining as the Pioneers sliced the deficit to 64-61, but Asbury earned a pair of free throws for a 65-61 cushion with 2:19 to go. Larimore powered to the hoop for another score with 2:19 to go before Asbury scored on a layup with 90 seconds left in regulation to retain a five-point lead.
Jack Patton quickly attacked the rack and went 1 of 2 at the foul line to lessen the margin to four points, and Asbury failed to gain ground on a 1 and 1 free throw situation on their ensuing trip. With 40 seconds remaining, Cromwell carved his way to the basket to reduce Asbury's lead to 68-66.
On the ensuing possession, the Eagles failed to sink a runner with 13 seconds left, and Cromwell drove the length of the floor to convert a driving score amidst plenty of contact to square up the game at 68-68. Following a timeout, Cromwell sank the go-ahead free throw for Transylvania's first lead since the 13:48 mark of the second half. A desperation three-point by the Eagles came up short with one second remaining and the Pioneers savored their latest comeback win.
Asbury's three-point shooting in the second half cooled down to 2 for 10 from deep while the Pioneers gained an offensive advantage with 48 percent shooting from the floor and 9 for 13 makes at the foul line in the second half.
Ethan Hudson added nine points off the bench to go with six rebounds for the Pioneers while Penn provided a powerful defensive effort composed of four blocks along with his 17 rebounds and four points.
The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday, December 1 at home against the Franklin College Grizzlies. The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener and rematch of the 2021 conference tournament championship game tips off at 7:30 p.m. at the Beck Center.
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