The Wabash defense played well enough to handle the ninth-ranked Hanover Panthers Monday night. But poor shooting haunted the Little Giants all game long, allowing Hanover to take a 62-59 win.
The Panthers jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, eventually outscoring the Little Giant 13-3 in the first five minutes. Wabash could not find any offense, falling behind as many as 15 points before making a late run. Kyle Coffey (SR/Greenwood, IN/Center Grove) hit back-to-back shots to trim the advantage to 11, followed by free throws by Andrew Zimmer (SO/Hobart, IN/Hobart) to make it a seven-point game.
It appeared despite the poor shooting effort Wabash might go into the locker room down only six when Gary Simkus (SO/Highland, IN/Highland) hit a three with 10 seconds remaining in the first half. But a three just ahead of the buzzer gave the Panthers a 32-23 halftime edge.
The Little Giants took control of the early minutes of the second period, outscoring Hanover 13-4 to tie the game at 36-36 on a layup by freshman Brian Maloney (Crown Point, IN/Crown Point). After a back-down basket by Hanover’s Ben Lye, Adonis Joseph (SR/Mishawaka, IN/Mishawaka) drained a three-pointer to give Wabash its first lead of the game at 39-38.
It would be the only lead for the Little Giants. Hanover responded with a free throw and basket to move back in front. After a series of ties, the Panthers jumped up by five with 4:31 left on free throws by Chad Talpas. Wabash would draw within one and would have the basketball on two separate trips down the floor. But a wild shot on the first trip and one of Wabash’s 16 turnovers on the next negated any chance to take another lead.
The Panthers were nearly perfect from the free throw line in the final minutes despite not scoring from the field after a Nate Minyard three-pointer with 6:43 remaining in the game.
Joseph led Wabash (1-2) with 12 points. Simkus and Coffey each had eight. Wabash shot just 20-of-54 from the field for 37 percent, despite holding the Panthers to 30 percent shooting in the second half.
The Little Giants will try to get back on the winning track Friday in the opening round of the CC/Clarion Hotels Thanksgiving Invitational at Colorado Spring, Colorado. The Little Giants open against Bethany College of Kansas.