Transy (11-2, 3-0 HCAC) won for the 10th time in 11 games and maintained its early HCAC lead while Mt. St. Joseph fell to 8-5, 2-1 in league action.
Although the game was tied only once early and the Pioneers led the entire way -- by as many as 15 points -- the Lions refused to fold down the stretch, closing to one point, 65-64, when Tony Blomer connected on a put-back. But Transy's Nick Feagan hit a three off a Bain assist and Pendleton made one of two free throws to put the Pioneers up by five, 69-64, with 19 seconds to go.
Blomer's three closed the gap to two but Bain's free throws iced the game for Transy. Blomer's bomb was Mount St. Joseph's only three of the half. They were 3 of 12 from long range for the game compared to eight of 21 for Transy.
Pendleton hit his first five three-pointers and finished five of six from the field to lead the Pioneers. He also had two assists. Matt Finke added 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, while Bain had 11 points off the bench. Bryan Howard was five of seven from the field for 10 points.
Kevin Darthard had 17 for the Lions and Robbie Noschang added 13.
Transy looked like it would win in a route in the first half, hitting 64 percent from the field for a 38-25 advantage. The Pioneers cooled to 48 percent in the second half while the Lions hit 60.7 percent to close the deficit.
The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, facing HCAC foe Bluffton at 3 p.m. Transy entertains nationally ranked Hanover on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. It will be Coaches vs. Cancer Night as the Transy athletics department joins with the American Cancer Society to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Several items will be available for a silent auction, including sports memorabilia, restaurant and golf course gift certificates, and tickets to see the Cincinnati Reds.