November 15, 2009

KENOSHA, Wis. - Transylvania fell behind Carthage by as many as 26 points Sunday and the Pioneers dropped their season-opener by a 76-54 count in men's college basketball action.

2009-10 Schedule/Results
HCAC Men's Basketball Page

Transy, the preseason No. 1 choice in the Heartland Conference and coming off an NCAA Division III Tourney appearance last year, is 0-1 while the Red Men, members of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, are 1-0. It was the first meeting of the teams since 1969.

Transy was behind by 25 points at halftime and 26 early in the second period only to battle to within nine, 53-44, on a Michael Stone three with just over 10 minutes to play. Freshman Barrett Meyer had a pair of long-range baskets to help fuel the comeback.

But Carthage held Transy to just a free throw over the next five minutes to reestablish a 24-point cushion, 69-45, at the 5:01 mark to clinch the contest.

Carthage opened the game with a 19-2 run and went up by 20, 24-4, with 7:49 to play. The Red Men's largest first half lead was 25 points, a 40-15 advantage at intermission. The Pioneers were hampered by poor shooting as they hit only two of their first 20 shots from the field and finished the period at 17.9 percent after making five of 28 attmpts.

Carthage shot 54.5 percent in the first half (12 of 22), including six of 10 from long range. Guzman made all five of his shots for 14 points and All-American Steve Djurickovic added 11. Blake McCowan had six points and five rebounds for Transy while Meyer pitched in five.

Transy was led by Meyer's 11 points and 10 points and four assists by Tim Tierney. McCowan finished with eight points and six rebounds as the Pioneers finished with a 39-35 edge on the boards.

Transy wound up shooting 29 percent from the field (17 of 59) and 29 percent (five of 17) from behind the arc. Carthage, which had three players in double figures, led by Djurickovic's 23, connected on 54 percent for the game on 25 of 46. That total included eight of 16 from long range.

Transy returns to action on Tuesday, traveling to Berea for a 7:30 p.m. matchup. The Pioneers' home-opener is set for Saturday when Centre comes to the Beck Center for a 7:30 p.m. contest.