Wabash used a 15-1 run midway through the first half to put away Denison University and win its North Coast Athletic Conference opener against the Big Red 83-57 while also improving to 5-0 for the season.
 
The Little Giants battled back and forth with Denison (1-4, 0-2 NCAC) in the early going with three ties and one lead change. Wabash held a 22-20 lead with 7:37 remaining in the first half when the Little Giants started their run. Harrison Hallstrom started with a free throw followed by back-to-back three-point baskets and a pair of free throws by Jack Davidson.
 
Connor Rotterman hit two free throws to extend the lead to 33-20 prior to two baskets by Hallstrom on ensuing trips to lift the Little Giants to a 37-21 advantage with 2:48 left to play in the period. Wabash continued its offensive onslaught, pushing the lead to 20 points at 43-23 before taking a 43-27 lead at halftime.
 
Denison cut the lead to 14 points at 53-39 with 14 minutes left to play before another push by the Little Giants sealed the victory. Hallstrom and Davidson both scored to push the lead back up to 18 points. Rotterman scored four of his season-high 21 points on consecutive drives to the basket to provide a 61-43 edge with 10:45 remaining. Davidson connected on two more free throws to provide the 20-point cushion before Wabash settled in for the 26-point victory, its third straight at home for the week.
 
Davidson led both teams in scoring with 23 points. Rotterman finished with 21 and Hallstrom tossed in 19 for the Little Giants. Hallstrom also grabbed a team-best eight rebounds as Wabash out-boarded the Big Red 39-35.
 
Jake Livingston came off the bench to lead Denison in scoring with 13 points.
 
Wabash shot 56.6 percent from field, connecting on 30-of-53 field goal attempts. The Little Giants held Denison to 22-of-63 from the field defensively for 34.9 percent.
 
Wabash returns to the road on Wednesday for an NCAC contest at Ohio Wesleyan University with tipoff set for 7 p.m.