LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology saved its best performance of the young men's basketball season for Saturday afternoon, defeating previously unbeaten Transylvania University 81-75 in Kentucky.
Junior Charlie Aimone led four players in double figures with 16 points and four three-point field goals. Stephen Schueth added 12 points and three rebounds.
Other double figure scorers included Nick McGrail with 11 points and six rebounds on 4-4 from the field; and freshman Craig McGee with 10 points, nine assists and five rebounds.
John Czarnecki provided support in the post with nine points and a career-high 12 rebounds in the victory.
The Fightin' Engineers relied on hot shooting to defeat a Transylvania team that topped No. 5 ranked Hanover College 95-81 on Wedneday. Rose-Hulman shot 56% from the field and hit 9-17 from three-point range in the contest.
Rose-Hulman also outrebounded Transylvania by nine at a 41-32 margin in the close contest. Cooper Theobald scored a game-high 21 points for the Pioneers, and Robert Dence added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds for Transylvania.
The Fightin' Engineers built a 14-point lead midway through the second half with its hot shooting. Transylvania fought back, closing with two points in the final minute at 74-72. Aimone buried a three-pointer with 44 seconds left to push Rose-Hulman's lead back to 77-72.
After a layup by Kyle Gullett brought the margin to 77-74, McGee hit two more free throws with 16 seconds remaining to give Rose-Hulman a 79-74 advantage. Transylvania hit the first free throw and missed the second on the next possession, grabbing the rebound with a three-pointer in the air and a chance to close within one. The shot rolled out, and Schueth grabbed the rebound and hit two free throws to secure the win.
Rose-Hulman improved to 2-1 in HCAC play and 2-6 overall, while Transylvania dropped to 5-1 and 2-1 in conference games. The Fightin' Engineers and Pioneers are both tied for second in the early HCAC standings behind 3-0 Mount St. Joseph. Rose-Hulman hosts Manchester next Saturday at 4 p.m. at Hulbert Arena.
