The Wabash basketball team watched a five-point first half lead evaporate over the final 20 minutes as the Little Giants lost 76-59 at Benedictine University Wednesday evening.
 
Wabash (3-3) led by as many as 12 points in the opening period but saw the host Eagles score 50 second-half points to improve to 6-2 for the year. The Little Giants limited Benedictine to 32.3 percent shooting in the first half before the Eagles caught fire in the second. Benedictine shot 18-of-30 from the field in the final period for 60 percent, outscoring Wabash 50-28.
 
While the Eagles were igniting the nets in the second half, Wabash struggled from the field. The Little Giants managed to make only nine of 29 attempts overall (31 percent), including only one of their 12 three-point attempts (8.3 percent) in the final period.
 
Both teams started slow on offense with Wabash holding a one-point lead at 13-12 eight minutes into the contest. The Little Giants went on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes led by a four-point effort from Kellen Schreiber, who paced Wabash in scoring with 17 points. The Little Giants stretched their 10-point lead to their largest of the game at 29-17 with 3:10 remaining in the first half off an Avery Beaver three-pointer from the right corner. The Eagles whittled the lead down to five points at the break by closing the period on a 9-2 run.
 
The Little Giants scored the first two baskets of the second half to extend their advantage back to nine points before the Eagles mounted their comeback. With Wabash holding a 35-26 edge, Benedictine went on a 16-5 scoring run over a span of six minutes to jump back in front 42-40. The Little Giants tied the score on a basket by Schreiber before another Eagles' run, this time a 9-0 stretch over two minutes, pushed the advantage to 51-42.
 
Benedictine eventually extended the lead to as many as 17 points thanks to one last 10-0 run for a 63-46 lead with 6:59 remaining in the contest. Wabash drew as close as 10 points at 69-59 with 2:51 left on the clock but went scoreless through the remainder of the half while the Eagles closed the game by scoring the final seven points of the contest.  
 
Benedictine took advantage of 14 Wabash turnovers by scoring 16 points in transition. The Little Giants managed only two points on 12 turnovers by the host Eagles. Benedictine also won the rebounding battle, holding a 40-34 edge in total boards and outscoring Wabash 13-9 in second-chance opportunities.
 
Tyler Watson chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds to go with Schreiber's 17 points and team-best eight rebounds. Ahmoni Jones added nine points and four boards.
 
Nick Kosich led Benedictine with 13 points. Chris Hester added 12 points. The Eagles' bench outscored Wabash 34-15 with Benedictine subs Marvin Agwomoh and Cade Ellingson scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Wabash continues its two-game road trip on Saturday when the Little Giants travel to Ohio to play the College of Wooster Fighting Scots in a 4 p.m. contest. No spectators will be allowed in attendance. The game can be viewed on the Internet at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/wooster/.