LEXINGTON , KY - The Transylvania University men's basketball team topped Franklin College on Saturday evening, 76-72, to claim the school's third Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament title. It was Transy's third conference tournament championship in the past four seasons.

After trailing by six at the half, the top seeded Pioneers pulled out an impressive four point win at home against the Grizzlies to secure the championship. Transylvania , with the win, earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament set to begin on Thursday.

Transylvania (21-5) was red hot from the field, connecting on 26 of 50 field goal attempts for a 52.0% clip. The Pioneers also hit eight three-point attempts on the evening and connected on 16 of their 20 attempts from the free throw line. Leading the way for TU was senior guard Aaron Cash (Brodhead, Ky./Rockcastle Co.) and junior forward Blake McCowan (W. Liberty, Ky./Morgan Co.) . Cash led the scoring attack with 20 points and four rebounds, while McCowan chipped in 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting. McCowan was named the tournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 17.5 points in the Pioneers' two wins.

Joining McCowan on the all-tournament team was senior guard Aaron Cash and Matthew Parton (Knoxville, Tenn./Knox. Catholic) . Parton averaged 16.0 points per game during the tournament for Transylvania .

Franklin was represented on the all-tournament team by senior Dustin Marshall (Lexington , Ind. /Scottsburg) and freshman center Will Conoley (Franklin , Ind. /H.S.) . Marshall averaged 14.5 points in two games for FC while Conoley scored 17 and 14 points during the Grizzlies' two tournament games.

Defiance 's Anthony Pettaway (Toledo , Ohio /Bowsher) earned the final spot on the all-tournament team, averaging a double-double with 23.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game for the Jackets.

Franklin finishes the season 17-10 while Transylvania will await its first round opponent in the NCAA Division III Tournament.