Franklin finished the game hitting 28-of-35 charity tosses compared to 14-of-17 for Wabash.
Wabash led much of the first half until Franklin tied the game at 38-38 at the 1:46 mark of the opening period. The Grizzlies hit 15-of-18 shots from the free throw line in the first half, compared to 7-of-8 shooting for the Little Giants. Junior Brady Claxton (Shelbyville, IN/Shelbyville) led the Wabash offense in the first half with 10 points, hitting 3-of-7 shots from the field, and 2-of-4 three-point shots. Wabash outscored Franklin 31-27 from the field in the first half of basketball.
Franklin went on a 9-0 run that started with 17:25 remaining in the second half before the Little Giants answered with a back-to-back baskets by Eric Buck (Indianapolis, IN/Cardinal Ritter) to make it 55-48. But a Franklin three at the other end gave the Grizzlies a 10-point lead with 12:50 remaining. After trading baskets over the next seven minutes before a three-point basket by Ryan Short (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) cut the Grizzlies’ lead to seven.
Joe DesJean (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) hit one of two free thows to cut the lead to seven with 2:41 remaining. The second free throw rimmed out, only to be grabbed by Short. A foul by Franklin sent Short to the free throw stripe, where he hit both shots to make it a 75-70 game with 2:38 left.
Wabash would get no closer as the Grizzlies took a 77-70 lead with 1:11 remaining, then hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute to take the victory.
Claxton led the Little Giants with 17 points. Buck finished 6-of-12 from the field for a season-high 13 points. DesJean added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Wabash falls to 3-5 with the loss. The Little Giants will return to Chadwick Court on Saturday, December 29 in the second game of the Pete Thorn Invitational. The first game features MacMurray College and the University of Wisconsin-Superior in the 6 p.m. game before Wabash and Olivet play at 8 p.m.