An 8-3 scoring run to open the second half of play propelled Wabash to a 71-65 win at Franklin College Monday evening.
 
Wabash used strong starts to both halves to earn its third consecutive win to improve to 5-5 for the year. Colten Garland and Logan White scored the first five point to begin the first half. A pair of baskets by White along with a driving score from Dalton Vachon stretched the Little Giants' advantage to nine point near the midway point of the second before Franklin's offense mounted a comeback. The Grizzlies (3-5) got a four-point play from Kale Morris 6:47 remaining in the first half to draw within one point of Wabash before holding the Little Giants scoreless over the final three minutes of the period to move in front 31-27 at halftime.
 
"We got off to a good start to open the game," Wabash head coach Kyle Brumett said. "They're playing at home and have an older, more experienced group. Franklin did a great job of continuing to play the first half out and grinding through to take the lead in an up-and-down half of basketball. We didn't look great when we headed into the locker room at halftime. We were feeling lower than we should have felt. We did some really good things defensively. We just needed to be better offensively. We flipped the switch on getting offensive rebounds in the second half, and that made us look better offensively."
 
Freshman Harrison Hallstrom took over at the start of the final period. Hallstrom scored the first 11 points of the second half for Wabash, outscoring the Franklin team 11-6 over the span of four minutes to put the Little Giants in front 38-37. Six of his points came off offensive rebound, part of 20 second chance points Wabash collected overall in the game. White and Garland scored the next points to increase the lead back to nine points for Wabash with 13 minutes left in the game.
 
The lead eventually moved to 10 points with 7:35 showing on the game clock when the Grizzlies mounted one last rally. A 20-11 run closed the lead back to a point at 63-62 in favor of Wabash with 1:10 left in the game. Hallstrom provided the key basket that allowed the Little Giants to close out the game on a three-pointer that provided Hallstrom's final points in his 22-point effort. Franklin was forced to foul in the closing minute. Wabash hit five of its final eight free throw attempts to secure the victory.
 
Garland chipped in 19 points for the Wabash win, while White --- named the NCAC Men's Basketball Player of the week earlier in the day --- scored 16 points to go with 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Aaron Mann led the Grizzlies with 19 points. Brett McCory added 12 points in the losing effort.
 
"Earlier in the season we talked about not getting consistency in our offensive play. Over this stretch of three victories we've gotten consistent scoring from three guys. We made some really good shots when we were down and got some equally good shots to maintain the lead."
 
The Little Giants take a short break to enjoy the holiday with family and friends before returning to campus for a game December 30 at Earlham College at 7:30 p.m.