Wabash did not score a basket in the final three minutes of the game, but hit seven free throws in the closing minutes to earn a 76-67 victory at Kenyon College in the opening game of the 2004-05 North Coast Athletic Conference basketball season.
The Little Giants took a 12-point lead with 1:07 left in the contest on a free throw by senior David Wagner (Belleville, IL/Belleville), only to see the Lords trim the advantage to six points with 24 seconds remaining before Wabash could put the game away to even its record at 3-3 for the season while moving to 1-0 in NCAC play.
Kenyon led by five points early in the contest before a three-pointer by Kyle Medeiros (JR/Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis) with 9:07 left in the first half put Wabash in front for the first time. Wabash pushed its lead to six when senior Doug Ross (Littleton, CO/Highlands Ranch) scored two of his five points on a layup. Back-to-back baskets by Adonis Joseph (JR/Mishawaka, IN/Mishawaka) and Medeiros let the Little Giants enjoy a 40-27 halftime edge.
Wabash pushed the advantage to 15 points in the opening minutes of the second half when Matt Shook (SO/Kendallville, IN/East Noble) drained a trey at the 14:50 mark. The Little Giants held that 15 points lead until the Lords went on a 7-0 run over the next 1:30 to close within five points. But a layup by senior Nate Bell (Ft. Wayne, IN/Concordia Lutheran), a jumper by Joseph, and two free throws by Shook made it a 68-57 contest with 1:55 left before the Little Giants closed by hitting seven of their final 12 free throws to earn the victory.
Shook led Wabash with 17 points and three rebounds. Joseph added 11 points. Kenyon's Matt Formato was 8-of-15 from the field for 21 points to pace both teams.
The Little Giants will play their NCAC home opener Monday night with a 7 p.m. contest at Chadwick Court against Oberlin College. The game was originally scheduled for December 19, but was moved to accomodate Oberlin's final examination schedule.