Wabash cut a 13-point second-half deficit to a single possession difference in the closing seconds of its home-opening basketball game against Hanover Wednesday evening. The Little Giants lost to the visiting Panthers 83-81.
 
Wabash (1-1) did not score a field goal in the first six minutes of the second half. The scoring drought allowed Hanover (1-0) to boost its three-point halftime lead to as many as 13 points with 12:16 left to play in the game. Avery Beaver and Tyler Watson started the offensive rally for the Little Giants with back-to-back three pointers to cut the Panthers' advantage to 55-48.
 
Jack Davidson scored two of his game-high 33 points on a driving layup with 4:32 remaining in the contest to bring Wabash to within four points at 64-60. Hanover responded with baskets from Isaac Hibbard and Jack Wininger to push the advantage back to eight points.
 
The lead hovered in the six- to eight-point range into the final minute of play before Davidson hit a free throw to complete a three-point play to cut the Hanover lead to five points. The Panthers stepped on the end line on the ensuing inbound play for a turnover. Davidson followed with another basket to make it a 76-73 Hanover advantage with 31 seconds on the clock.
 
The Little Giants were forced to foul in the closing minute of play. Hanover connected on five of six free throws in the closing seconds to maintain the lead. Davidson scored on a driving layup with five seconds left in the game to bring Wabash back to within three points. The Panthers hit their final two free throws of the game for a five-point cushion before a Watson three-pointer at the buzzer provided the final two-point differential.
 
Wabash held an early three-point lead in the first three minutes of the game. The teams traded the lead five times in the early going before a jump shot from Hibbard in the lane provided a 20-18 lead for the Panthers midway through the first half that they would not relinquish.
 
The Little Giants shot 48.2 percent from the field by connecting on 27 of 56 shot attempts. Hanover hit 30-of-58 shots for 51.7 percent.
 
Watson chipped in 18 points for Wabash. Kellen Schreiber added 12 points. Davidson and Watson both finished with seven rebounds to lead the Little Giants. Hibbard led Hanover with 16 points and five assists. Max Greenamoyer finished with 15 points. Wininger scored 11 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Noah Williams also scored 11 points coming off the bench for the Panthers. Hanover's reserves outscored Wabash 30-8 for the ballgame.
 
Wabash returns to action on Friday, November 19th with a game at Marietta College as part of the Great Lakes Invitational. The Little Giants are one of eight teams competing at the two-day event hosted by Marietta. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.