Turnovers sparked a 10-0 run in the final minutes of the first half, erasing a Wabash 13-point advantage and leading to a 66-65 loss at Franklin Saturday afternoon.
 
The Little Giants squandered several opportunities in the closing minutes of the game to secure the win but were unable to capitalize.
 
"We could have stretched that 13-point lead out a little bit toward the end of the first half, we had two turnovers at the end of the half that led to easy baskets," Wabash head coach Kyle Brumett said. "We played the first 13 minutes of the half with either one or two turnovers. Then in the last seven minutes it turned it over three times that led immediately to baskets. And we had one shot that was like a turnover because it came too quickly and was a forced shot.
 
"It's disappointing but Franklin is a good program and this was a good test for both schools. You have to tip your hat to them. Our guys are hurting and are frustrated, but that's part of growing up and part of what makes playing this game worth it. Whether they realize it or not, there are some life lessons from today's game that hopefully will carry with them."
 
Wabash finished the game with 13 turnovers compared to seven by the Grizzlies. Franklin scored 14 points off the Little Giants' miscues.
 
After trading early baskets, Wabash opened up a six-point lead off a three-pointer and a layup by senior Kasey Oetting. The swingman finished with a season-best 18 points for the Little Giants. Oetting eventually gave Wabash a 13-point lead with a free throw at the 2:47 mark of the first half before Jim Mace and Brandon Scruggs. Mace grabbed an offensive rebound that led to a basket from John Beineke, and then tallied four points to cut the Wabash lead to five points. Scruggs played solid defense over the two-minute span before capitalizing on the final turnover of the half by Wabash to score a layup and trim the score to 36-33 at halftime.
 
The Grizzlies extended the scoring run into the second half thanks to a pair of turnovers by Wabash, finally taking a two-point lead on Brett McCory's three-pointer. The two teams exchanged baskets throughout much of the remainder of the period, tying the game six times before three-point play by Daniel Purvlicis on a layup and free throw put the Little Giants in front 64-65 with 3:52 left to play in the game.
 
The points by Purvlicis would be the last for the Little Giants. Wabash was held scoreless over the final 3:52, attempting only one shot to go with three missed free throws. Austin Burton, who finished with 12 points, had a pair of free throws fail to connect. Marcus Kammrath tallied six points but missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw trip in the final seconds of the game that ended with an offensive rebound by the Grizzlies.
 
Offensive boards also played a key role in the loss by the Little Giants. Franklin's Cody Federmann snared a miss by Aaron Mann to score the game winning put-back basket. The Grizzlies (1-9) scored five second-chance points on five offensive rebounds in the second half.
"We actually got stops in the final two minutes but Franklin got offensive rebounds and we couldn't finish the possession," Brumett said. "They either got the basket or we fouled them. In a one-point game we were in position to do some really good things and then we didn't get defensive rebounds. That's our number-one strength --- it's who we have to be. We couldn't get the ball into our bigger guys on the offensive end and then did not get defensive rebounds at the other end. Those two things go together. Franklin did a really good job of taking those things away from us tonight."
 
Kyle Aiton added 10 points while Kammrath grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Little Giants.
 
Aaron Mann paced Franklin with 15 points. Mace scored 12, while Scruggs picked up 11 points. Trae Washintgon tossed in 10 points and handed out seven assists.
 
Wabash will return to action in less than 48 hours, playing a home game Monday at 7:30 p.m. versus Indiana University Northwest at Chadwick Court.