Twice in Saturday’s basketball game the Wooster Fighting Scots made big runs against Wabash. The Little Giants would answer only one of those runs, falling 111-76 to the third-ranked Scots at Chadwick Court in North Coast Athletic Conference play.
The Little Giants trailed by as many as 11 points six minutes into the first half. Wabash rallied at both ends of the floor, holding the Scots to only four points over the next ten minutes. While the defense kept Wooster under control midway through the period, the offense exploded for 16 points over that same stretch to cut the lead to 24-23. The two teams would trade baskets over the next few minutes before Wooster would make one final push prior to halftime to take a 45-37 lead at the break.
Wabash survived the first half despite being outrebounded 23-14, including 11 offensive boards by the Scots. The Little Giants held Wooster to 15-of-35 from the field in the first half, and seemed poised to keep the game close in the second period.
That was before the Scots shot the lights out of Chadwick Court over the final 20 minutes, connecting on 25-of-37 shots for 67.6 percent. Wooster finished the game 40-of-72 from the field, the best shooting performance of any Wabash opponent this season. The few times Wooster did miss, the Scots seemed to grab every rebound. Wooster finished with 45 total rebounds, including 19 offensive boards leading to 19 second-chance points. The Scots raced to a 15-point lead five minutes into the second half before blowing the game open at the eight-minute mark.
Wabash shot well from the field, hitting 26-of-52 for an even 50 percent. But the free throw line looked like foreign territory for the Little Giants. Wabash would manage just 19-of-35 from the line for 54.3 percent.
Caleb Lyttle led Wabash with 17 points. Andrew Zimmer scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Gary Simkus added 11 points coming off the bench for Wabash.
The Little Giants, 10-5 overall and 4-2 in conference play, will try to snap their two-game losing streak Wednesday night in an in-state and NCAC rivalry game at Earlham College. Tipoff in Richmond, Indiana is set for 7:30 p.m.
Photos - Caleb Lyttle (top left) led Wabash with 17 points, hitting 7-of-9 shots from the field in the Little Giants' loss to Wooster.
Mike Russell (right) had three points in 13 minutes of action in Saturday's game against the number three-ranked team in the nation.