Box Score In its toughest test of the season the Wabash basketball team prevailed in a last-minute victory over Baldwin-Wallace, 63-61 to improve to 9-0 overall for the season.
 
With the win the Little Giants will play Transylvania (8-0) at 7 p.m. Wednesday night in the final game of the Don Lane Classic. The Pioneers are the hosts for the two-day classic, which also includes Hendrix College (2-6). Transylvania defeated Hendrix 61-44 in Wednesday's second contest.
 
“This was a very hard-fought game between two excellent ball clubs,” said Head Coach Antoine Carpenter.
 
Both teams struggled early, before the Yellow Jackets built  a 10-point lead midway through the first half. The Little Giants would battle back thanks to the play of freshman Kasey Oetting and sophomore Andy Walsh. Both players hit back-to-back baskets to propel Wabash to a 22-21 halftime lead. Walsh recently joined the Wabash basketball team for his first season of play after serving as a backup quarterback for the Little Giants' 12-1 nationally-ranked football program.
 
The Little Giants would get off to a slow start again in the second half, allowing Baldwin-Wallace to build up a seven point lead just five minutes into the half in the Yellow Jackets' attempt to knock off a top-25 team for the second time this season. B-W defeated fourth-ranked Marietta early in the year. Wabash entered the game ranked 14th in the latest D3hoops.com poll.
 
Hornet sophomore guard Grant Fairhurst hit four consecutive three-point baskets during the Baldwin-Wallace (6-3) run. He led the Yellow Jackets in scoring with season-high 20 points.
 
Senior big man Nick Curosh was a vital part of the Little Giant win despite being in foul trouble most of the contest. Curosh battled hard in the paint, leading Wabash in scoring with eleven points and six rebounds on the night.
 
The difference in the game came from the charity stripe. Wabash knocked down 10 of 14 free throws while Baldwin-Wallace was 5 of 9. Both teams made 24 field goals in the contest.

Wabash also owned the offensive glass, outrebounding the Yellow Jackets 12-6. The Little Giants converted those 12 offensive boards into 10 second-chance points.
 
Derek Bailey sealed the win for Wabash hitting one of two free throws and blocking away a rebound attempt as the game clock expired, giving the Little Giants a big win.
 
Brian Shelbourne had 10 points on the evening, Aaron Zinnerman added another 9 to go with a team-high seven rebounds. Walsh and Bailey both contributed 8, while Oetting had 7. Jordan Surenkamp finished with 6 points and Pete Nicksic scored 4 points to round out the box score for the Little Giants.
 
Wabash was held to just 33-percent shooting in the first half, but shot particularly well in the second, knocking in 15-of-27 shots.