Matt Griggs hit a 3-pointer and Noll converted a three-point play to make it a 55-47 game with 6:37 to play. It was the first time since Transylvania led 23-15 with 9:21 left in the first half that Centre cut the deficit to single digits.
Ross Herman's layup made it 55-49, and Mullaney made two free throws to cut the Pioneers' lead to 55-51 with 5 minutes, 21 seconds to play.
With 2:22 remaining, Bryon Ellis drained a 3-pointer as Centre trailed 59-56. But that was as close as the Colonels would get. Transylvania closed on a 9-4 run seal the win.
It was a 15-13 game when Transylvania began to pull away with 131?2 minutes left in the first half.
Brandon Rash's three-point play gave the Pioneers a 23-13 lead with 10:48 left in the first half. Tim Tierney's layup with 4:07 left made it a 30-15 Pioneers lead, and they took a 33-18 lead into the half.
Centre was 20-for-44 from the floor (45.5 percent), hit 7 of 20 3-pointers and went 13 of 15 at the free throw line. But the Colonels had just seven assists to 13 turnovers, while Transylvania had 10 assists and turned the ball over eight times and outrebounded Centre 31-27.
Transylvania finished 24 of 51 from the field for 47.1 percent, but made just 11 of 21 free throws.
Tierney led Transylvania (2-1) with 16 points and had four assists, Blake McCowan had 12 points and seven boards and Meyer added 10 points.
Centre returns to action Tuesday at home against Franklin College at 8 p.m.
TRANSYLVANIA 68, CENTRE 60
CENTRE (0-2): Josh Crawford 3-6 1-1 7, Danny Noll 3-7 1-1 9, Alex Lloyd 4-5 0-0 8, Jeff Mullaney 2-8 11-12 15, Bryon Ellis 4-11 0-0 11, Dee Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Matt Griggs 2-2 0-0 6, Ross Herman 2-2 0-1 4, Kyle Binder 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-44 13-15 60.
TRANSYLVANIA (2-1): Brandon Rash 3-4 1-1 7, Blake McCowan 6-10 0-1 12, Tim Tierney 4-11 7-9 16, Barrett Meyer 4-12 0-1 10, Matthew Parton 2-4 1-2 7, Taylor Botkin 1-1 1-2, 4, Chris Owens 3-7 1-2 9, Matthew Clevenger 0- 0-0 0, Mike Satterwhite 0-0 0-0 0, Matt Wise 0-0 0-0 0. Total 24-51 11-21 68.
Halftime— Tranylvania 33-18. 3-Point Goals—Centre 7-20 (Noll 2-4, Mullaney 0-3, Ellis 3-9, Smith 0-1, Griggs 2-2, Binder 0-1), Transylvania 9-23 (McCowan 0-1, Tierney 1-3, Meyer 2-8, Parton 2-3, Botkin 1-1, Owens 2-5, Satterwhite 1-2). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Centre 27 (Lloyd 8), Transylvania 31 (McCowan 7). Assists—Centre 7 (Crawford 4), Transylvania 19 (Tierney 4). Total Fouls—Centre 17, Transylvania 17.
