CRAWFORDSVILLE, Indiana --- Wabash rallied from a 12-point deficit to capture a three-point lead with 5:31 remaining. The Little Giants could not come up with the victory on the night senior guard Vinny Buccilla scored his 1,000th career point, losing at 25th-ranked Denison University in North Coast Athletic Conference action Wednesday evening.
 
Wabash moved to 7-6 overall and dropped its first NCAC game of the season (3-1). Denison improved to 12-1 overall and 4-0 in NCAC contests.
 
Buccilla became the 32^nd Wabash basketball player to score 1,000 or more points in a career, nailing a jumper with 8:58 remaining in the first half to cut the Big Red's lead to 15-12. Denison eventually pushed the advantage to 12 points in the first half by taking advantage of an uncharacteristically high number of turnovers. The Little Giants came into the game leading Division III in the fewest turnovers committed per game at 8.6 per contest. Wabash gave the ball away 11 times in the first 20 minutes, leading to 12 Denison points, and finished the game with 16 total turnovers for 16 Denison points.
 
Trailing 35-23 at halftime, Wabash began to cut into the Denison lead. Gavin Schippert opened the second half with a layup, followed by a Rich Brooks three-pointer to bring Wabash within seven. The Big Red regained an 11-point lead with 11:02 left to play in the game before the Little Giants' shooting hands got hot. Buccilla hit a three-point basket. Randy Kelley converted a Denison turnover into a driving layup to bring Wabash to within six points, 47-41.  
 
Denison's Trevor Reed pushed the lead back to eight points with a layup with 9:06 on the game clock. But Schipperts and Brooks responded with back-to-back three-pointers to bring Wabash to within two points at 49-47 with 8:21 left to play.
 
Kelley tied the game at 49-49 with another drive to the baskets. Noah Hupmann gave the Little Giants their first lead at 50-49 with a free throw. Kelley nailed two free throws at 5:31 to put Wabash up 52-49.
 
Denison would not go away. Scotty Dean and Tyler Miller sandwiched two more Kelley free throws with three-point baskets to put the Big Red back in front 55-52. Kelley added two more free throws to make it a 55-54 score. Denison ran off a 6-0 scoring run over the three minutes to move in front 60-54. Wabash got no closer than four points in the final minute in the 64-58 contest
 
Wabash finished the game shooting 21 of 50 from the field (42 percent) and made 7 of 18 three-point tries (38.9 percent). Denison connected on 24 of 50 field goals (48 percent), making 8 of 17 three-point attempts (47.1 percent).
 
Kelley led Wabash with a season-best 17 points. Nate Matelic added 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. Buccilla finished with seven points. Hupmann added five points and led the team with eight rebounds and six blocked shots.
 
Reed finished with 15 points to lead Denison in scoring. Cameron Smith chipped in with 10 points.
 
Wabash continues its schedule against top-25-ranked teams with a home contest against tenth-ranked Wooster. The Scots improved to 13-1 overall and 5-0 in NCAC games with their 84-71 win Wednesday evening at Kenyon.