BOX SCORE
TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology rimmed out a potential game tying three-pointer in the final seconds and nationally ranked Transylvania held on to earn a 56-51 men's basketball win on Saturday.
Junior Austin Weatherford (Cicero/Hamilton Heights) rimmed out a three-pointer with seven seconds left and the Engineers trailing 54-51. Tate Cox secured the rebound and hit two free throws for the final margin of victory for Transylvania.
Transylvania improved to 19-2 and 13-1 in league play on the season and is ranked No. 18 nationally by d3hoops.com this week. Rose-Hulman stands 14-7 overall and 8-6 in league play.
Sophomore Jordy Martin (New Albany) was the offensive story off the bench for Rose-Hulman. Martin, who entered the game with five points on the season, finished 6-7 from the field and 5-6 from three-point range for a career-high 17-point performance to lead all scorers.
Ethan Spurlin led three Transylvania players in double figures with 15 points. Cox scored 12 for the Pioneers, who also received 11 points from Barrett Meyer.
For Rose-Hulman, Weatherford also reached double figures with 10 points. Junior Nate Gissentanner (Conyers, Ga./Rockdale County) and sophomore Julian Strickland (Indianapolis/Pike) pitched in with eight points each.
Rose-Hulman jumped out to an early 12-6 advantage on two free throws by Gissentanner and a layup from sophomore Jake Dodd (St. Peters, Mo./Missouri-St. Louis). The lead reached seven at 23-16 at the 5:40 mark on two field goals by Strickland.
Transylvania closed the half on a 10-2 run to take a 26-25 lead at the half on a jumper by Cox at the first half buzzer.
Rose-Hulman regained a 36-32 lead at the 14:49 mark on two straight three-pointers by Martin. Transylvania responded with an 8-0 run to regain the lead at 40-36 with 11:11 remaining.
Rose-Hulman again charged and earned the lead at 46-42 on a field goal by Gissentanner and a free throw by Gerken at the 6:58 mark. Transylvania scored five straight points to earn a 47-46 lead, then the score was tied at 49 on two free throws by Transylvania's Ashley Hatfield at the 2:10 mark.
Two free throws by Chris Owens and another by Barrett Meyer gave Transylvania a 52-49 lead in the final minute. Weatherford scored in the paint to bring the margin to 52-51 with 23 seconds left, but Meyer again hit two free throws to push the lead to 54-51.
Rose-Hulman returns to action on Wednesday night at Franklin.