Box Score Wabash watched a 10-point halftime deficit stretch to as many as 22 before falling at Wittenberg 64-47. The Tigers controlled the offensive and defensive glass in the final 20 minutes for the win.
The loss ended a two-game winning streak by the Little Giants. Wabash defeated DePauw University 52-48 last Wednesday, followed by a 55-48 win against the College of Wooster, ranked eighth in the nation when the game took place.
The Little Giants stayed with Wittenberg through the first 15 minutes of the contest before the Tigers pushed its lead to 10 points at halftime. Wabash held the Tigers to 27 percent shooting (3-11) through the first 10 minutes before Wittenberg caught fire. The host Tigers finished the half with a 21-13 run for a 10-point advantage at the break.
Wabash and Wittenberg (15-7, 8-5 NCAC) each grabbed 18 rebounds in the first half. The Tigers dominated the boards over the final 20 minutes, outrebounding Wabash 23-13 and a total of 10 second-chance points for the game. Wittenberg's inside game also proved to be too much for the Little Giants. The Tigers scored 24 of their 64 points in the lane.
The Little Giants owned an early lead off a
Ross Sponsler three-point shot and a layup by
Pete Nicksic. Wabash preserved the lead despite a couple of Wittenberg runs for a 12-11 edge thanks in part to a
Kasey Oetting three-pointer. Oetting returned to the lineup for Wabash for the first time since suffering a stress fracture in his right foot. Scott Masin answered Oetting's three with a layup at the other end to give the Tigers the lead they would never relinquish.
After trailing by 10 at the break, Wabash would score only four points in the first nine minutes of the final period. The Tigers took advantage, pushing their lead to as many as 20 points during that period. The Little Giants mustered one final rally, getting to within 14 points on a
Daniel Purvlicis layup. Wittenberg took over down the stretch, maintaining the lead for the win.
Sponsler finished with 12 points to pace Wabash offensively.
Andy Walsh tossed in eight points, while Nicksic finished with 7 points. Purvlicis grabbed nine rebounds for the Little Giants.
Masin recorded his second double-double of the season against Wabash with 13 points and 12 rebounds. He scored 19 points and grabbed 11 boards in a 50-45 loss by the Little Giants to Wittenberg earlier in the year.
Wabash (7-15, 5-8 NCAC) remains in the hunt for a spot in the upcoming North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. The Little Giants are tied with Hiram (11-11, 5-8 NCAC) for the seventh spot in the standings with a two-game lead over ninth-place squads Allegheny (9-13, 3-10 NCAC) and Oberlin (5-17, 3-10 NCAC). Wabash welcomes Kenyon (13-9, 7-6 NCAC) to Chadwick Court Saturday for a 3 p.m. tipoff. The Lords defeated Oberlin 65-50 earlier Wednesday night.
