Wabash came into Wednesday’s North Coast Athletic Conference basketball game at Wittenberg undefeated in league play with a spotless 4-0 record. That came crashing to the ground as the Little Giants struggled on offense, losing 59-40 to the Tigers in Springfield, Ohio.
Defensively the Little Giants would hold Wittenberg to its second-lowest point total of the year. But Wabash had its second-worst shooting night of the season, hitting only 30 percent (15-of-50) for the game.
The Little Giants never got things going from the start.
Wabash would shoot just 16 percent in the first half, going 4-of-25 from the floor. The Little Giants committed more than twice as many turnovers than baskets made, giving the basketball away 10 times.
The Little Giants would get two baskets from Caleb Lyttle (Sullivan, IN/Sullivan), a three-point jumper from Andrew Zimmer (Hobart, IN/Hobart), and a layup by Ryan Stephens (Zionsville, IN/Zionsville). Free throws from Zimmer and Stephens accounted for all 13 points for Wabash. The Little Giants would not reach double figures until six minutes into the period.
Defensively the Little Giants kept as close as their poor shooting would allow, holding the Tigers to 30 points in the opening period on 13-of-26 shooting. Wabash forced seven turnovers, but could not keep the Tigers off the offensive glass. Wittenberg scored six points on five offensive rebounds in the first half.
Trailing by as many as 18 points in the first 20 minutes, Wabash would cut the Wittenberg lead to 14 on a driving basket by Gary Simkus (Highland, IN/Highland) with 13 minutes left in the contest. But the Little Giants would play the Tigers even throughout the remainder of the half, failing to overcome the slow start while falling to an even 7-7 for the season with the loss.
Zimmer led the Little Giants with a career-best 14 points. Lyttle finished with eight points
Wabash will return to Chadwick Court for the first time in over a month Saturday for a 3 p.m. NCAC game against Denison University.