Wabash, despite finishing with four players in double figures and hitting 52 percent from the field, came up on the short end of an 81-77 basketball game at Franklin College Saturday afternoon.
While the Little Giants were connecting on 28 of their 54 shots from the field, Franklin also found it easy to score, hitting 30-of-55 shots for 55 percent. The Grizzlies also took advantage of 23 Wabash turnovers.
The Little Giants fell behind early, trailing 14-6 in the first five minutes before senior guard David Wagner (Belleville, IL/Belleville) sparked a 12-4 run that ended with a layup by Matt Shook (Kendallville, IN/East Noble) and a two-point Little Giant lead.
That lead wouldn’t hold up for long. A Nick Kane jumper tied the game at 18-18, one of six ties in the first half between the two teams. Wabash broke the final tie of opening period with a Wagner jumper for two of his 10 points, sending the Little Giants to the locker room with a 41-39 lead.
But it was a short-lived lead. The Grizzlies started the second half with a 7-2 run to move in front 46-43. Another series of lead changes and ties knotted the game at 63-63 midway through the final half.
Franklin appeared to break the game open with a 9-2 run in the closing minutes of the game to move ahead 76-68. Senior center Nate Bell (Ft. Wayne, IN/Concordia Lutheran) started the final Wabash comeback effort with a layup, followed by a three-point bomb from Shook in the right corner that trimmed the Grizzlies’ lead to three points. A defensive stop by the Little Giants and two free throws by Adonis Joseph (Mishawaka, IN/Mishawaka) with 59 seconds remaining put Wabash within a point at 76-75.
The Little Giants would get no closer. Kane broke free for a layup to put Franklin in front by three with 38 seconds left in the contest. After a turnover by Wabash, the Little Giants fouled quickly, sending Nick Scott to the free throw line. He missed the fron end of the one-and-one, but got the basketball after the Grizzlies corralled the rebound, and was fouled again. This time he hit one of two from the line, putting Franklin in front 79-75.
Wabash drove the length of the floor, finding Kyle Coffey (Greenwood, IN/Center Grove) for a layup. A quick foul by the Little Giants led to a missed Franklin free throw, giving Wabash a chance to tie the game. But a baseline driving shot by Shook rolled off the front of the rim, ending the Little Giants’ chances at the road win. Two final free throws by Kane made gave the Grizzlies a four-point win.
Bell and Shook each finished with 14 points to lead the Little Giants. Junior Caleb Lyttle (Sullivan, IN/Sullivan) added 12 points. Bell had six rebounds to pace Wabash.
Four Franklin players also scored in double figures. Alan Davidson led all scorers with 22 points. Kane had 18, while Nick Scott finished with 12. Jared Sabelhaus tossed in 11 points and a team-high four rebounds.
Wabash falls to 2-2 with the loss. The Little Giants will continue their Indiana swing with a road contest at DePauw University Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.