Lexington, Ky. – The Transylvania men's basketball team was stunned by the Franklin College Grizzlies, 92-91 in overtime on Wednesday evening in a heartstopping conference opener at the Beck Center.
Moments after Brandon Cromwell scored on what would have been his second consecutive game-winning three-point play, the Grizzlies converted a go-ahead runner with 0.4 seconds left in overtime to hand the Pioneers their first loss of the season, dropping Transy to 3-1 overall, and 0-1 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.
Franklin improved to 3-1 on the season and tipped off its HCAC slate at 1-0.
The Pioneers came out with an intense first-half display, bullying the Grizzlies in the paint to outscore Franklin 24-14 in the crimson-coated area en route to a 34-32 advantage. Though the Pioneers were cold from outside, the home team shot 13 for 20 on two-pointers to create the slim margin.
In the second half, Colby Napier asserted his three-point shot, scoring 12 of his 19 points in the final 25 minutes of game play to give the Pioneers a nine-point advantage six and a half minutes into the second half.
The Grizzlies answered back on a 13-2 run to take a one-point lead, but the Pioneers quickly responded with five straight points to go ahead, 68-64 with 4:14 remaining in regulation. After Hunter Penn buried two free throws and Cromwell scored on a runner, the Pioneers formed a 73-66 lead with 3:04 left in the second half.
Franklin pulled within two points with two minutes remaining, but Jack Patton buried a clutch three-pointer to give the Pioneers a five-point lead at 77-72 with a minute left.
The Grizzlies countered with a sizzling final minute, using a layup to pull within three with 50 seconds remaining. Franklin sent Penn back to the foul line, who sank 1 of 2 charity shots to give the Pioneers a 78-74 lead. The Grizzlies found salvation with an and-one score with 30 seconds left in regulation, and scored on an offensive putback on a missed free throw to sew up the game at 78-all. The Pioneers sought a buzzer-beater, but Cromwell's layup attempt with no time left went awry, and the teams headed to overtime.
The lead see-sawed in overtime before the Grizzlies fashioned an 89-87 lead with a minute left. Penn made one free throw to pull Transy within one at 89-88 with 29 seconds left in overtime and Transy sent the Grizzlies back to the line again. The Grizzlies made just one of two foul shots for a 92-90 lead.
Cromwell drove to the bucket with five seconds left in overtime and powered to the rack to tie the game at 90-all. The junior's 20th point of the game put the Pioneers in position for a thrilling win, but Franklin guard Mitch O'Mara hit the final shot of the game to deliver the Grizzlies the final answer.
Penn had a season-high 23 points on 8 for 15 shooting from the field to go with nine rebounds, a season-high four blocks, and one steal. Aiden Pashley and Matthew Teague each added 10 points for the Pioneers.
Transylvania looks to bounce back on Saturday, December 4 against the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Fightin' Engineers in the second game of a women's-men's doubleheader at the Beck Center. The Pioneers tip-off at approximately 3:00 p.m. versus Rose-Hulman.
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