Matt Finke scored 19 points and hauled in 13 rebounds Tuesday, leading Transylvania to a 78-43 win over Heidelberg in the Pioneers' home-opener at the Beck Center.
It was a dominating performance for the Pioneers (4-1), who broke a 5-5 tie with an 18-2 run to take a 23-7 lead with 11:41 to play. Transy steadily pulled away, leading by 18, 32-14, at the half. Its biggest lead was 35 points, its final margin. Two Ron Higgins' free throws and a three by Kenny Gilbert got the visitors with 17, 36-19, but Transy went on a 21-7 run to make it 57-26. The Pioneers' lead never dropped below 26 points the rest of the way.
Heidelberg came into the contest averaging better than 91 points a game, but the Student Princes (2-3) shot just 28 percent for the game, including 12 percent (two of 17) from three-point range. In the decisive first half, Heidelberg hit only six of 29 shots (20.7 percent), including only one of 12 (8.3 percent) from three-point range.
With Finke scoring 13 of his points and Joey Searle knocking in seven, Transy shot 38 percent in the first half. The Pioneers were five of 13 from long range, outscoring the visitors 15-3 from behind the stripe in the opening period.
Transy finished the game shooting 42 percent. The Pioneers' final advantage from the three-point line was 33-6. Finke also led the Pioneers with five assists. Transy was 11 of 30 (36.7 percent) from the three-point line.
Searle finished the game with 14 points and six rebounds and senior Nate Valentine came off the bench to score nine points. Head coach Brian Lane played 14 Pioneers and 10 hit the scoring column. Reserve guards Riley O'Neal, Marc Bain, and Adam Cole combined to toss in 19 points as Transy's backups outscored Heidelberg's bench, 29-16.
Higgins had 12 points and seven rebounds for Heidelberg.
Transy has a break before its next game, a road contest at Centre on Dec. 9. The Pioneers will play Maryville at home on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.