Wabash junior guard Tyler Watson scored 23 points in the Little Giant basketball team's 70-53 loss at 12^th-ranked DePauw Saturday afternoon.
 
Wabash (5-6) took an early 8-6 lead before the host Tigers (12-1) moved in front by four points five minutes into the contest. DePauw held the lead until Watson scored with 7:22 remaining in the first half to even the tally at 16-16. The Tigers regained the lead and never relinquished it, moving in front by as many as 10 points in the opening period.
 
Trailing 36-26 at halftime, Watson trimmed the DePauw advantage to five with a two-point and three-point basket to open the final period. Watson answered a pair of Tiger free throws with another basket to keep the lead at five before DePauw ran off five consecutive points to move back in front by 10. The Little Giants could get no closer than six points on another Watson three-point basket midway through the final period before the Tigers pulled away for the 17-point victory. Nolan Ginther led DePauw in scoring with 17 points. Josh Hall added 12 points for the Tigers.
 
Watson averaged 23.3 points in three games versus DePauw this season.
 
Wabash shot 42.3 percent from the field for the game, hitting on 22-of-52 attempts. The Little Giants hit 5-of-20 three-point attempts (25 percent) and were a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. DePauw finished 26-of-52 from the field for 50 percent shooting for the game and hit 7-of-19 three-point tries (36.8 percent). The Tigers paraded to the free throw line 13 times, hitting 11 for 84.6 percent.
 
Wabash will close out its abbreviated 2021 season on Wednesday evening against Denison University. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Little Giants will honor senior Connor Rotterman prior to the start of the contest. No general admission will be allowed. The game will be available for viewing at https://team1sports.com/Wabash.