In a game made up of major runs, the final one proved costly to Wabash in its 75-71 road loss Sunday to Allegheny in North Coast Athletic Conference action.
 
The Little Giants (3-5, 2-3 NCAC) used a 17-0 scoring run over 6:40 of the first half to erase a 15-6 deficit after Allegheny (5-5, 2-3 NCAC) jumped out to the quick lead in the first 7:30 of the game. The Gators outscored Wabash 12-3 over the final 4:38 to tie the game at 68-68 on the way to the eventual four-point victory.
 
Turnovers continued to haunt Wabash in the loss. The Little Giants committed 17 miscues in the game leading to 19 points for the Gators, including four turnovers in the final 4:38 of the game.
 
Wabash got off to a slow start less than 24 hours removed from its 75-68 overtime loss to Hiram on Saturday. Allegheny, winners versus DePauw 70-57, scored the first eight points of the game before Harrison Hallstrom broke the ice for the Little Giants with a layup for an 8-2 score two minutes into the game.  The Gators extended the lead to 15-6 with 12:23 remaining in the first half on a jumper by Jordan Rawls before Wabash put the clamps on defensively and began its own scoring run.
 
"This is always a tough trip," Wabash head coach Kyle Brumett said. "It's tough for us when we come here. It's tough for Hiram and Allegheny when they come out to Indiana. It's a little unique in our conference because only four of the teams have to do this double weekend. Our young guys struggled yesterday with the level of play that Hiram brought to the table and the intensity they brought for 45 minutes. I was happy we had some chances in the overtime game but we just didn't get enough shots at the basket in that game, or in today's loss to Allegheny.
 
"Then you come back today with tired legs and frustration from the day before. I thought our energy was good in the first half. We played well in stretches, but it was the same thing that kept us from finding a way to win either game. I don't have an immediate fix for our guys. We'll watch the film and take a little time over the next couple of days before we play Rose to study and catch our breath. The bottom line is we just need to improve in valuing the basketball."
 
Rhett Helt and Logan White scored back-to-back baskets to trim the lead to 15-10. Colten Garland added two more baskets on consecutive possessions to prior to a three-pointer from Helt to give the Little Giants a lead at 17-15. Wabash extended its lead to eight points while holding Allegheny scoreless for nearly seven minutes. The Little Giants eventually moved in front by as many as 10 points before the Gators closed the first half lead to five points at 34-29 in favor of Wabash.
 
"We've had so many different injuries or things that have shaken our lineup up," Brumett said. "I was disappointed in myself yesterday in the Hiram game that I didn't trust the bench a little more. I wanted to get Logan and Rhett and Dalton Vachon in early today. Rhett has played really well since we've been shorthanded on the perimeter. We're looking for some consistency out of our older post players. I thought Logan and Dalton both gave us really good minutes this weekend in both games. But they also have to be part of the defensive rebounding and figuring out how to play without turning the ball over.
 
"We got off to another slow start today, but Dalton, Rhett, and Logan came in and didn't try to get it all back at once. They guarded and rebounded and we were able to chip away and found ourselves offensively."
 
Allegheny continued to trim the lead to as close as one point to begin the second half before Wabash responded with a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to move in front 46-33. The Gators whittled the lead to single digits and drew as close as one point before Lamar Todd hit a jumper with 7:14 remaining to give Allegheny a 63-62 lead.
 
Connor Rotterman answered with a jumper to spark a 6-0 run for Wabash to put the visitors in front by five with 4:38 left to play. That's when Allegheny mounted the final run of the contest, outscoring the Little Giants 8-3 down the stretch for the victory. Wabash missed seven of its final eight shots along with four turnovers in the final 4:38.
 
Garland led Wabash with a season-high 23 points. White came off the bench to score 12 points and grab seven rebounds. Rotterman added 12 points, as well. Jack Davidson scored 10 points and snared a team-high 13 rebounds for his second collegiate double-double.
 
Rawls scored a team-high 16 points for Allegheny. Todd finished with 15 points.
 
Wabash travels to Rose-Hulman Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. contest.