A pair of Johnny Jager free throws with six seconds left in regulation provided the difference in a 63-61 victory by the Wabash basketball team at Allegheny Monday afternoon.
 
The Gators (2-10, 2-3 NCAC) got a game-winning shot at the buzzer from Evan Zabriski, but the three-point try fell harmless away from the basket after clanking off the rim. The victory provided the Little Giants their first North Coast Athletic Conference win of the season.
 
Wabash (7-5, 1-4 NCAC) lost a double-digit lead for the second day in row. After leading by 12 points at Hiram Sunday, the Little Giants eventually lost 80-64. Monday Wabash stretched a seven-point halftime advantage to 16 points with 12:45 left to play. Allegheny outscored the Little Giants 22-5 over the next eight minutes to take a 55-54 lead. The two teams traded scores over the final four minutes before Evan Schweitzer tied the game at 61-61 with 27 seconds left to play. Jager drew the foul in the closing seconds and hit his eighth and ninth free throws of the game to provide the winning margin.
 
Senior Austin Burton had the hot shooting hand for Wabash in the first half. Burton connected on 5-of-8 shots from the field, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, to tally 14 points. He was held to two points in the second half but finished with a season-best 16 points, matching the 16 scored by Jager. Daniel Purvlicis tallied 13 points and seven rebounds. Ben Stachowski chipped in 10 points. Evan Frank led the team with eight rebounds. Jager also handed out seven assists.
 
Wabash held the Gators to 4-of-22 shooting from beyond the arc (18.2 percent). The Little Giants hit 20-of-49 shots from the field (40.8 percent) and 16-of-20 free throw attempts (80 percent).
 
Evan Zabriski came off the bench to pace the Allegheny offense with 19 points. Starting guard Evan Schweitzer scored 17 points, while Chris Milon tallied 10 points. Zabriski also grabbed 12 rebounds.
 
Wabash returns to Chadwick Court to continue the NCAC portion of its schedule with a 3 p.m. contest against Denison University (6-5, 2-3 NCAC).