CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN –A pair of Sam Comer free throws with five seconds remaining in the game secured a 70-67 victory over 16th-ranked Washington University in St. Louis Friday evening at Chadwick Court.
Comer stepped to the line with the Little Giants (2-0) clinging to a 69-68 lead. The junior connected on both free throw attempts to finish with 14 points. Edreece Redmond gave Wabash the lead 30 seconds earlier with a driving basket and free throw after the visiting Bears (1-1) had taken their only lead of the second half. Washington University's Charlie Jacob scored on a jumper in the lane with 40 seconds left on the game clock to put the Bears in front 67-66.
Wabash held the lead in the game for 33:55 minutes. After falling behind 2-0, Wabash went on an 11-0 run with 18:39 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Buccilla, to take an 11-2 lead. Washington University cut into the Little Giants' first-half lead, tying the score at 18-18 on a basket by Will Grudzinski. Hayden Doyle gave the Bears a two-point lead midway through the opening period. The two teams traded the lead before Wabash closed out the half with an 11-4 run over the final five minutes to take a 37-30 halftime lead. Wabash did most of its first-half damage inside, scoring 20 of its 37 first-half points in the paint.
The Little Giants stretched their lead to as many as 13 points. Washington University answered with a run of its own, cutting the lead to four points at 57-53 with 7:55 left in the game. The Bears drew as close as one point with 3:24 remaining. Vinny Buccilla responded with a driving layup to put Wabash back in front by three points, 64-61.
Jacob drew the Bears back to within a point at 64-63 with two of his team-high 16 points. Comer scored with 2:22 remaining to put Wabash back in front by three points, but a basket from Jake Wolf for Washington University made it another one-point game with 2:04 on the clock.
The Bears took their final lead on Jacob's basket with 40 seconds remaining before Redmond's drive and Comer's free throws secured the victory for the Little Giants.
The Little Giants (2-0) had four players score in double figures, led by Vinny Buccilla, who had 15 points. Comer added 14 points and seven rebounds, and Edreece Redmond chipped in with 14 points and two steals.
The Wabash defense forced 15 Washington University turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 20 points on the offensive end of the floor. Redmond's two steals led the way individually for the Little Giants.
Game Notes
» The Wabash defense forced 15 turnovers.
» The Little Giants shot 25-of-54 from the field for 46.3 percent.
» Wabash finished 14-of-17 from the free throw line (82.4 percent).
»The Little Giants' biggest lead was 13 points with 12:13 remaining in the second half.
» Washington University held a three-point lead with 9:08 left in the first period, the Bears' largest advantage in the game.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
Â
