Wabash stayed with the third-ranked Wooster Fighting Scots for the first half of Saturday’s basketball game in Ohio before an early 10-0 run to start the second period led to a 75-52 loss by the Little Giants.
Wabash led 5-2 early on a three-pointer by Adonis Joseph (Mishawaka, IN/Mishawaka). The Scots came back, eventually taking a 23-16 lead. Four straight points by junior Caleb Lyttle (Sullivan, IN/Sullivan) trimmed the lead to 25-22 before a missed shot by Wooster and jumper by Gary Simkus (Highland, IN/Highland) made it a one-point game.
Lyttle gave Wabash the lead at 26-25 with 4:15 left in the first half on a layup by Lyttle, then increased it to three points when Andrew Zimmer (Hobart, IN/Hobart) scored a minute later. But free throws by Wooster and jumper by James Cooper gave the Scots the lead again. It would turn into a six-point lead at the half with Wooster heading to the break up 34-28.
The Wabash defense that had produced 10 turnovers and compiled four blocked shots in the first period disappeared in the second period. The Scots were a perfect 8-of-8 from the field through the first six minutes of the second period, increasing their halftime lead to 52-32. The Little Giants finished the final period hitting only six shots out of 24 attempts, 17-of-48 for 35 percent for the game.
Lyttle and Zimmer led the Little Giants in scoring, each finishing with eight points.
Wabash returns to Chadwick Court Wednesday night for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against Ohio Wesleyan.