Box Score Three attempts to tie the game in the final minute of regulation came up short as Wabash lost its 2012-2013 basketball season opener 59-54 to Manchester University Saturday afternoon. Freshman Daniel Purvlicis recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in his first career start.

Purvlicis, who finished the game shooting 7-of-9 from the field with an equal split of 5 offensive and 5 defensive rebounds to go with three assists, tied the game at 52-52 with a monster dunk standing the post with 3:23 left to play. After a triple by Manchester's Caleb Jackson, Wabash looked inside to the 6-7 rookie once again. Purvlicis took a pass from Colten Craigin and scored on a layup to cut the Spartans' lead to one with 2:33 remaining in regulation.

Manchester took a three-point lead with 1:38 left to play before the Little Giants mounted their final offensive attack. A missed three-point shot by Ross Sponsler led to a possible fast-break basket by the Spartans, but the Wabash defense recovered quickly and forced a missed layup by Jon Thompson. Evan Johnson grabbed the rebound to give Wabash one final chance.

The Little Giants converted one try into three, missing three long-range shots despite grabbing two offensive boards to keep the comeback effort alive. Manchester collected the final missed attempt with four seconds left and hit two free throws in the closing seconds to secure the victory.

Wabash erased a seven-point Manchester lead midway through the second half thanks to three-pointers by Andy Walsh and Austin Hawn. A free throw by Purvlicis and a triple by Johnson completed a 10-2 run that gave the Little Giants a 48-47 lead with 5:41 left in the contest. The Spartans would outscore Wabash 12-6 in the final five minutes to even their season record at 1-1.

Johnson came off the bench to score a career-best nine points for Wabash. Sponsler finished with eight points in his Wabash debut, while Hawn and Walsh each chipped in six points. The Little Giants shot 34 percent (21-of-61) overall, including just 10-of-31 (31 percent) from beyond the three-point arc.

David House, Silas Sims, and Grant Newlin each scored 11 points to lead Manchester. Thompson chipped in 10, as did Greg Flores.

Wabash (0-1) returns to action Sunday afternoon against Albion College. The Britons defeated Manchester 78-63 Friday evening.