Box Score Wabash withstood a strong second-half push from Oberlin Saturday, holding on for a 57-52 home victory.
 
View photos from the game here and here.

The Little Giants led by 10 points with six-and-a-half minutes remaining, but the Yeomen amounted a 10-2 run to cut into the lead. However, Wabash made the plays in the final minute to seal the victory.
 
"Our defense was resilient, especially in the second half when we really needed it because our shots weren't falling," Coach Antoine Carpenter said. "Although Oberlin was able to make a run, we were able to finish off the ball game by getting a couple of key shots at the end."
 
Freshman Kyle Aiton produced a key shot on a floater to give the Little Giants a two-possession lead with 12 seconds remaining and the shot clock about to expire. Aiton finished game-high 20 points. He has averaged 21 points-per-game in his last three contests.
 
Another Wabash freshman provided an impressive stat line. Center Daniel Scofield grabbed 15 rebounds, despite spraining his ankle in the first half. He also scored four points, handed out three assists, and dealt with Oberlin's big man, 6-foot, 9-inch center Randy Ollie, while playing 26 minutes.
  
"We have a lot of big guys on the team so I'm used to battling down low," Scofield said. "When it gets to the game, nothing changes except the opponent. After going against the same guys every day, it's fun to beat up on somebody else."
 
Each team's big men took a beating as fouls added up. Pete Nicksic had two fouls and Scofield finished with four for Wabash. Ollie also had four, his last one coming at the 11:51 mark in the second half.
 
"The main focus was just to keep him off the block," Scofield said. "If we could get him out in space, he wasn't quick enough to beat us down off the dribble. I basically just had to try and muscle him off, and he did the same thing at the other end. It was a true battle."
 
Ollie finished the game with 8 points and 8 rebounds. Geoff Simpson led Oberlin (5-12, 2-8 NCAC) in scoring with 18 points. Jesse Neugarten tossed in 10 points.
 
Kasey Oetting paced Wabash in the first half with 13 points, and finished the game with 15. Oetting and Aiton shot a combined 14-of-15 from the free-throw line as the Little Giants made 19-of-25.
 
Saturday's game marked the start of the second half of the conference schedule for Wabash. The Little Giants' previous game at Oberlin ended in a disappointing 17-point loss. Scofield credited a fast start as the difference this time.
 
"We knew it was important to come out strong because this team can compete," he said. "It was really important to get the lead and keep it throughout the game."
 
The Little Giants (5-11, 4-6 NCAC) face a challenging week ahead. They travel to Wittenberg Wednesday for a 7:30 tip before heading to Wooster for a 2 p.m. start Saturday.