Wabash increased its 34-33 halftime lead to three points on a Joe DesJean (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) layup to start the second half, only to see Hanover take a two point lead just two minutes into the period on a jumper by Jess Denger and three free throws by Derek Grimm. The Panthers extended their lead to seven before back-to-back three-pointers by Brady Claxton (Shelbyville, IN/Shelbyville), sandwiched around a Hanover basket, made it a 43-39 game.
That was as close as the Little Giants would get as Hanover increased its lead to 14 points with just over six minutes remaining in the game.
Hanover hit free throws down the stretch to put the game away. In fact, the charity was one of the differences in the game as Hanover hit 78-percent of its charity tosses, while Wabash managed only 64-percent from the stripe. The Little Giants did manage to hit 54-percent of their three-point shots, including a five-for-five effort by Claxton.
Claxton led Wabash in scoring with 25 points. DesJean had 14 points, and Ryan Short (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) added 11 points.
The Little Giants fall to 1-2 with the loss. Wabash will return to Chadwick Court on Monday evening to play DePauw University at 7:30 p.m.