Another outstanding defensive effort and balanced scoring helped Wabash earn a 68-58 victory over in-state rival Franklin College Friday night.
The win was the sixth in a row for the Little Giants, the longest winning streak by a Wabash basketball team since the 1999-2000 team had a seven-game string. Click here to view a photo album from the Wabash win.
Wabash trailed early in the contest, but caught a break when the Grizzlies lost leading scorer Nick Kane to a sprained ankle when he came down on a tipped basket. The Little Giants took advantage, pounding the basketball inside to score 40 points in the paint, and open up the outside shooting areas. Wabash took only nine three-point attempts, but connected on five for 55.6 percent from behind the arc. Adonis Joseph was 2-for-3 from long range, including an early bomb that pulled the Little Giants to within two points after the Grizzlies had jumped out to a five-point lead.
The Little Giants also kept the Grizzlies in check on the Wabash defensive end of the court. The Little Giants held Franklin 20 points under its season average for points, while strangling the Grizzlies shooting efforts to the tune of 23-of-61 for 37.7 percent from the field.
Franklin led by five once more with just under nine minutes left in the first half before Wabash started its scoring run.The Little Giants exploded for an 18-2 advantage to move in front by 11. Andrew Zimmer and Michael Woods started the streak with inside shots before Joseph added two straight fast break baskets on layups after Wabash forced two of the Grizzlies' 17 turnovers.
A late basket and two free throws by Franklin trimmed the Wabash lead to seven at halftime before another scoring run, this time a 14-7 push midway through the second period, put the Little Giants up 19. Dustin Huff capped the run with a wide-open three to put Wabash in front 59-40.
Wabash held its double-digit edge over the final eight minutes of the game to notch the victory.
Joseph led the Little Giants with 17 points, while Caleb Lyttle added 10 points and 10 rebounds for his third career double-double. The Little Giants held a 39-31 advantage on the boards overall in the game. Zimmer added nine poitns, five rebounds, and two blocked shots. Woods also scored nine points. Kyle Medeiros scored seven points, as did Huff in his first varsity action for Wabash.
Jace Redman score 12 points to lead the Grizzlies, but was scoreless in the second half of the game after tallying all his baskets in the opening period. Dustin Marshall added 10 points, along with 10 points from Marty Young.
The Little Giants move to 7-3 with the victory. Wabash will play Greenville College Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. at Chadwick Court.
Photos: (top) Adonis Joseph drives for two of his 17 points.
(bottom) Caleb Lyttle recorded his third career double-double to help Wabash to its seventh win of the season.
(sports home page) Joseph drives the lane for another layup.