Daniel Purvlicis scored 18 points in the second half to build on a Wabash lead to eventually claim an 80-66 home win over Denison Saturday afternoon.
 
The victory jumped the Little Giants into a six-way tie for fifth place in the North Coast Athletic Conference standings with a record of 2-4 in league games.
 
Wabash utilized the outside game in the first half before pounding the ball inside to earn the 14-point win. Guards Austin Burton and Johnny Jager combined for 28 points in the first half, combining for 9-of-10 shooting from the field, including 6-of-6 from three-point range. Purvlicis provided support inside, scoring nine points with a 4-of-6 effort from the field. Wabash shot 17-of-25 from the field with a 6-of-9 effort from three-point range while holding the Big Red (7-6, 2-4 NCAC) to 13-of-27 in the first half. Denison connected on its first two three-point tries, but hit only 5-of-11 long range attempts in the opening period.
 
The Little Giants pounded the ball inside to open the second half to add to their 45-33 lead. Purvlicis notched the first six points of the final period. Eighteen of the 35 Wabash points in the second half came from inside the lane. The Little Giants defense kept Denison in check in the period. The Big Red hit just 12-of-35 attempts, with a 6-of-19 effort from three-point range.
 
Purvlicis finished with a game-high 27 points. Jager tallied 21 points, while Burton finished with 16.
 
"Getting the win today gives us a lot of confidence," Purvlicis said. "We're such a young team with so many freshman. When we started with those losses in conference games, it can take a lot to learn from that. We needed some wins against some good teams --- and this Denison team is a very good team. They have a lot of juniors and seniors. It was important for us to come out and play with intensity."
 
"It was really good to get back home and play a league game, and play well," Wabash head coach Kyle Brumett said. "There's a clump of teams in the NCAC trying to carve out a name for themselves. We've gotten off to a little bit of a slow start, but we've also played some really good teams. We have to make some hay when we're here at home.
 
"I was really happy with the way the guys played, especially in the first half and then follow it up with the way we came out in the second half."
 
David Maurer scored 23 points on 10-of-22 shooting to lead Denison's offense. Jett Speelman finished with 14 points, while Matthew Bauer finished with 11.
 
Wabash (8-5, 2-4 NCAC) travels to Delaware, Ohio Wednesday to play eighth-ranked Ohio Wesleyan. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.