Hanover, Ind. — Wabash College opened its 2025–26 men's basketball season in emphatic fashion Saturday afternoon, dominating both halves on its way to a 90–61 road victory over Hanover College at John Collier Arena.
 
The Little Giants (1–0) never trailed while shooting 53.2 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from three-point range. Senior guard Josh Whack led five players in double figures with a perfect 7-for-7 shooting performance for 20 points, while senior forward Gavin Schippert added 13 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Colton Stowers matched that 13-point total and pulled down six rebounds, fellow first-year guard Deric Cannady added 13 points, and freshman Luke Ellspermann filled the stat sheet with 11 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Senior Rich Brooks added 10 points to complete the double-digit scoring for the Little Giants.
 
Wabash wasted no time asserting control, racing to a 9–0 lead before the Panthers scored their first basket. Brooks opened the season with a three-pointer, Ellspermann followed with two free throws and a layup, and Stowers converted a fast-break layup off a turnover to cap the run. Hanover (0-1) briefly cut the deficit to 11–8 after a six-point burst from Cam Freeman, but the Little Giants quickly responded with an 8–2 surge, keyed by scores from Ellspermann and Nate Matelic to rebuild a double-digit cushion.
 
After Hanover drew within three at 24–21 with just over five minutes left in the half, Wabash seized momentum for good with a 21–9 closing run. Cannady drained a pair of three-pointers and Whack converted back-to-back layups during the spurt, while Schippert's inside finish and Whack's three-pointer with 2:05 left stretched the advantage to 40–28. A late layup by Ellspermann and a free throw from Stowers sent the Little Giants into the locker room ahead 46–30.
 
Wabash connected on 18 of 31 first-half shots (58.1 percent) and outrebounded Hanover 19–15 before the break.
 
The Little Giants wasted no time extending their advantage after halftime. Stowers converted a steal into a fast-break layup on the first possession, sparking a 9–0 run that included baskets by Brooks, Ellspermann, and Whack to push the margin to 55–32 just three minutes into the second half.
 
Wabash's relentless tempo and depth overwhelmed the Panthers throughout the half. Schippert's putback at 16:45 made it a 25-point game, and a 10–2 burst midway through the period—highlighted by Cannady's jumper and a Schippert three-pointer—stretched the lead to 80–56. Tyler Horton added a hook shot and layup in the final minutes, while Arlondo Hall buried a three-pointer with 26 seconds remaining to close the scoring.
 
Wabash shot 48.4 percent in the second half and outscored Hanover 44–31 over the final 20 minutes. The Little Giants finished with a 44–28 advantage in points in the paint and held the Panthers to just 3-of-25 shooting from beyond the arc.
 
Hanover's Malachi McNair produced a strong effort with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Freeman and Jack Miller each scored 10 points, but Hanover shot just 35 percent overall and failed to mount a sustained rally in either half.
 
Wabash returns home Wednesday to host Rose-Hulman in its home opener at Chadwick Court. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.