GAME 5 and 6
Transylvania (3-1, 1-0 HCAC) vs Franklin (3-4, 1-0 HCAC)
Wednesday, December 6th, 2023 | 7:30 PM | Lexington, Ky. (Clive M. Beck Center)
Audio: none | Video | Live Stats
Vs Manchester (3-2, 1-0 HCAC)
Saturday, December 9th, 2023 | 3:00 PM | North Manchester, In (Stauffer-Wolfe Arena)
Audio: none | Video | Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
Transylvania improved to 3-1 on the season with a twenty four point win versus Defiance College. The Pioneers shot 52% from the floor and had three players finish with 10 or more points in the win. Simon Smith finished with 15 points to lead all scorers. It was the 354th win of Head Coach Brian Lane's career. FULL RECAP | BOX SCORE
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Transylvania went deep into the rotation last game, playing all 15 active players in their first HCAC game of the season. 5th year senior Brandon Cromwell played for the first time in two years in this game, going 1-1 and sinking a three point shot drawn up for him. This was followed by a crowd and bench eruption as the Pioneer faithful had a close eye on his return. Hunter Penn was two points short of a double double finishing with 8 points and 10 rebounds. Jaylan Green continued his double digit per game streak with 13 in the win. Matthew Teague made the start against Defiance where he would find a new season high 8 assists. This game would see plenty of season highs for several players, most notably Zach Stahlman who had a season high in points, rebounds, assists, and minutes.
Transy returns twelve players from last season's team, with their starting five all returning. Leading scorer from last season Jaylan Green returns for his senior season and finished last season with 14.2 points per game. Junior Colby Napier averaged almost 30 minutes per game last season and was second on the team in scoring at 13.8 points per game. His 60 made three point shots led all Transy scorers last season.
Junior Hunter Penn finished last season with a team 189 rebounds and 18 blocks and is poised to make an impact once defense on the glass again this season. Senior Simon Smith was second on the team in rebounds last season with 15 and averaged 9.4 points per game last season. Dakota Capps is back for his sophomore campaign and was second on the team in assists with 3.1 last season. Expect to see more of Matthew Teague this season, who started in seven games last year and gave Transy quality minutes off of the bench (608 total).
Transylvania was voted fourth in the 2023-24 HCAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning two first place votes.
LOOKING AT THE GRIZZLIES
Franklin College was picked 6th in HCAC Preseason poll. They average 72 points per game, while allowing opponents 77 points per game. The Grizzlies sit at 3-4 while defeating Anderson (77-70) last game opening HCAC play.
Lynn King leads Franklin in scoring with 15 points per game while scoring double figures in each game so far this season. The 6'4 combo guard is matched with sharpshooter Ryan Bostic who has already attempted 49 three point shots this season, averaging 14 points per game.
LOOKING AT THE SPARTANS
Manchester was picked to finish 2nd in HCAC Preseason poll, averaging 69 points per game while opponents average 70 points per game. The Spartans sit at 3-2 this season after defeating Mount St. Joseph in HCAC play (67-62).
The Spartans are led by Junior guard Bryant Smith who averages 18 points per game, shooting 43% from the field. This team is guard heavy as the four leading scorers are all 6'3 or under, while only shooting 27% from three.
THE SERIES
Transylvania has been on the winning end of the 48 games history versus Franklin, leading the series 35-13. Against Manchester, the Pioneers are 13-7 in 20 games.
PREVIOUS MATCHUP
Transylvania defeated Franklin 98-68 last season in the Clive M. Beck Center with a Jaylan Green leading the way with 28 points. The Pioneers shot 66% from the field and from three in the second half of the game to pull away.
Transylvania lost to Manchester last time out 106-109 in double overtime as Colby Napier would go off with 32 points 6-11 from behind the arc. This double overtime loss would be the most points scored by Transy that season.
THE LANE WAY
Head Coach Brian Lane '90 enters his 23rd season. Lane first started with the Pioneers in the 1990 season when he was an assistant under his father, the legendary Don Lane. He then coached as an assistant for UNC-Charlotte, South Carolina, North Carolina State, Florida Atlantic, and Morehead State before being named Head Coach of Transylvania in 2001.
Since 2001, Lane has led the Pioneers to six NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2020. He was named a Glenn Robinson National Coach of the Year Finalist in 2011-2012 and has earned Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2005-2006.
Lane has been named HCAC Coach of the Year on four separate occasions, earning the honors in 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2012. He has 353 wins as head coach, earning his 350th last season versus Mount St. Joseph (FULL RECAP) and his 353 wins are second most all time, trailing his legendary father Don Lane who has 509 career wins.
During his playing career at Transylvania (1986-1990), Lane scored 1,286 points which ranks 30th all time in program history.
TRANSY STATS N' STREAKS
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Transylvania has reached the HCAC postseason tournament in nine straight seasons, last winning the tournament during the 2019-20 season.
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The Pioneers have not recorded a losing season since the 2015-2016 season (the 2020-21 season was shortened due to Covid)
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Transy ranked third in the HCAC last season in scoring, averaging 75.6 points per game.
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Jaylan Green has reached double figures in every game this season.
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Simon Smith had a season high 15 points in the win over Defiance
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Transy is 35-13 versus Franklin all time
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Transy is 13-7 versus Manchester all time
UP NEXT
Transylvania travels to Bluffton University in Bluffton Ohio, Monday December 18th at 2:00 PM.
2023-24 HCAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
|
1.
|
Anderson University (5)
|
80
|
|
2.
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Manchester University (2)
|
67
|
|
3.
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Hanover College (1)
|
66
|
|
4.
|
Transylvania University (2)
|
65
|
|
5.
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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
|
50
|
|
6.
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Franklin College
|
38
|
|
7.
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Mount St. Joseph University
|
36
|
|
8.
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Earlham College
|
23
|
|
9.
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Bluffton University
|
18
|
|
10.
|
Defiance College
|
12
|
2023-24 HCAC Athletes to Watch
Transylvania
Returning 2022-23 All-Conference Basketball Athletes to Watch in 2023-24
