Men's Basketball Fight Through to End the Week with a Win on Senior Night
Game 1: Mountaineers at Transylvania
The men's basketball team returned to action this past Wednesday, traveling to Lexington to take on rival Transylvania. The two teams had met just a week earlier in Berea, where Transylvania came away with a 73–64 victory. This matchup followed a similar script in the first half, with both teams shooting efficiently and trading baskets in a tightly contested match. Transylvania carried a 43–39 lead into the break.
However, coming out from halftime, the Pioneers opened with a strong run to build a double-digit advantage and never looked back, securing a 91–77 win. Senior Bryce Riley led the Mountaineers with 23 points and 3 rebounds, while freshman Zach Hudson added 16 points and 3 rebounds. Juniors Nate Barrow and Cobi Commodore also made key contributions, each finishing with 9 points.
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Game 2: Mountaineers vs. Franklin
The men's basketball team closed out the weekend at home, hosting Franklin College on Senior Night. Before tipoff, the Mountaineers honored five seniors—Anthony Hamm, Bryce Riley, Andrew Jones, Jaylin Black, and John Stanford—for their dedication to the program. The two teams last met on December 13, when Franklin edged out an 83–74 overtime victory.
This time, the Mountaineers came out strong, and the game remained tight throughout the first half, with Franklin taking a 37–30 lead into halftime.
The second half told a different story. Berea made an impressive defensive adjustment coming out of the break, forcing numerous turnovers and holding Franklin without a field goal for an 11-minute stretch. That defensive intensity allowed the Mountaineers to seize control and pull away late, securing a 77–69 victory in front of the home crowd on a memorable Senior Night. Seniors Bryce Riley and Andrew Jones led the charge with 16 points each and several key rebounds. Juniors Nate Barrow and Jae'dyn Gist also provided a spark, both finishing in double figures, while senior Anthony Hamm added 9 points off the bench.
Up Next:
The Mountaineers will return to action Wednesday when they host Earlham College before traveling to Indiana on Saturday to take on Anderson.
