GREENSCASTLE, Ind. — Gavin Schippert recorded his second double-double of the season and Wabash College made the decisive plays down the stretch to earn a 74-70 North Coast Athletic Conference road victory over DePauw University on Wednesday evening at Neal Fieldhouse.

The Little Giants (13-6, 7-3 NCAC) shot 56.0 percent from the field in the second half and knocked down timely shots during a back-and-forth final 20 minutes to secure their third win in the last four trips to Greencastle. Wabash finished 26-of-59 from the field (44.1 percent), including 9-of-21 from three-point range, and converted 13-of-18 at the free-throw line. DePauw (12-7, 5-5 NCAC) shot 43.3 percent overall and 6-of-22 from beyond the arc .

Wabash overcame an early 5-0 deficit when Rich Brooks buried a three-pointer off a Luke Ellspermann assist to spark the Little Giants. After trading baskets, Wabash used a 7-0 spurt midway through the opening half to grab momentum. The run included a Keegan Manowitz three-pointer, followed by an Ellspermann driving layup and capped by a Brooks fast-break three off a turnover to give Wabash a 17-13 advantage with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half.

DePauw responded with its own push, trimming the margin and briefly reclaiming the lead behind inside scoring from Sam Jacobs and Reph Stevenson. The Tigers closed within one late in the half, but Wabash answered again. Nate Matelic knocked down a second-chance jumper, and Ellspermann scored off a turnover in the final minute to send the Little Giants into the break with a 30-29 lead.

The second half featured six lead changes and three ties as neither team led by more than seven points. DePauw opened the half with a 7-2 run, highlighted by consecutive baskets from Jacobs, to take a 34-30 edge. Wabash countered immediately. Brooks scored on a second-chance layup, Ellspermann converted off a turnover, and then drilled a three-pointer to swing the lead back to Wabash, 37-36.

The Tigers answered with a 7-0 run of their own to build a 46-39 lead at the 12:12 mark, their largest advantage of the night. Wabash responded with its best stretch of the game, an 8-0 surge fueled by Schippert. The senior forward scored on a layup, completed a three-point play at the line, and then added another basket in the paint to pull Wabash within two. Brooks capped the run by knocking down a three-pointer off a turnover after a successful coach's challenge by Wabash to give the Little Giants a 47-46 lead with 11:04 to play.

The teams continued to trade baskets over the next several minutes. DePauw briefly moved back in front behind inside buckets from Jacobs and Stevenson, but Wabash regained control with balanced scoring. Ellspermann scored twice in the lane, and Matelic hit a second-chance three-pointer to put Wabash ahead 57-56 with 6:10 remaining.

Down the stretch, Wabash's execution proved decisive. Matelic converted two free throws, then finished with a fast-break dunk off a Schippert assist to push the margin to five. Brooks drilled a three-pointer with 1:18 remaining to extend the lead to six, and the Little Giants sealed the win at the foul line in the final seconds.

Schippert led Wabash with 19 points and 10 rebounds along with four assists. Brooks added 19 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range, while Ellspermann finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Matelic chipped in nine points, and Manowitz scored five points off the bench. The Little Giants gave out 16 assists while committing only seven turnovers

Jacobs paced DePauw with 22 points, while Stevenson, Brady Kunka, and Caleb Washington each added nine for the Tigers.

The victory avenged an 89-79 home loss to DePauw on Dec. 3 in the first conference meeting between the rivals this season. Wabash improved to 9-2 in the last 11 meetings overall and continued its recent success in Greencastle, where the Little Giants have won the last three games and four of the last five.

Wabash returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 4, with a 7 p.m. NCAC road game at Denison University. The Little Giants trail the Big Red by a half-game in the conference standings.