SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Wabash College saw both a four-game overall winning streak and a three-game run against Wittenberg University come to an end Wednesday evening as the Tigers controlled the tempo from the opening minutes and handed the Little Giants a 73-65 loss in a North Coast Athletic Conference matchup.

Wabash (12-5, 6-2 NCAC) trailed for nearly the entire contest after Wittenberg (12-5, 5-3 NCAC) opened the game with an early surge and built a 13-point first-half lead. The setback marks the midway point of the NCAC schedule and dropped the Little Giants to 6-28 all-time in conference road games at Wittenberg.

Wabash struck first when Gavin Schippert converted a layup on the opening possession, but the Tigers responded with an 8-0 run fueled by a Tyler Galluch three-pointer and interior baskets to seize control. Wittenberg extended the margin to double digits with a decisive 12-4 stretch midway through the half, highlighted by scoring from Galluch and Eddie Brown to push the advantage to 36-23 with under four minutes remaining.

The Little Giants chipped away late in the opening half behind inside scoring from Luke Ellspermann, who finished as Wabash's leading scorer with 13 points. Ellspermann continued to pace the offense early in the second half, scoring twice in the paint as Wabash pulled within four following a Josh Whack layup.

Each surge was met with a response from the Tigers, who answered with a 6-0 run sparked by free throws and a jumper to restore breathing room. Wabash made its final push midway through the half when second-chance scoring trimmed the deficit to six at 64-58 with under four minutes to play, but Wittenberg steadied itself with interior baskets to extend the lead back to eight.

The Little Giants battled to the final horn and closed the gap late, but the Tigers sealed the contest at the free-throw line.

Wabash made 26-of-62 shots from the field for 41.9 percent shooting overall, but made just 3 of 16 three-point tries (18.8 percent). The Little Giants connected on 10 of 12 free throws. Wittenberg shot 49 percent from the field, including 6 of 15 from three-point range, and converted 25-of-29 free throws. The Tigers also held a narrow 35-33 rebounding advantage and scored all six fast-break points in the game. Wabash finished with a 42-24 edge in points in the paint and a 13-8 advantage in second-chance points.

In addition to Ellspermann's 13 points, Wabash received double-figure scoring from Schippert with 11 points and Whack with 10. Wittenberg countered with four players in double figures, led by Galluch's 16 points, followed by Noah Frayer with 12, Brown with 11, and Jace Wardlow with 11.

The loss dropped Wabash into a tie for first place in the North Coast Athletic Conference standings with Denison University. The Little Giants begin the second half of the conference schedule on Saturday, Jan. 24, with a 2 p.m. home contest against John Carroll University.