The Little Giants took a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game, only to see Hiram battle back to take a 13-12 lead midway through the first half. Wabash regrouped and took a nine-point lead with 3:54 remaining in the opening period before taking a 42-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Wabash came roaring back onto Chadwick Court to start the second half, going on a 31-9 run midway through the second half earn its fifth win of the season, its third in the NCAC.
Five players finished in double figures for the Little Giants, three from the starting lineup and two from the bench. The balanced scoring attack for Wabash came as no surprise to its head coach.
"I told the guys before the game to make the most of their minutes, said Wabash head coach Mac Petty. "Our bench has been playing extremely well, and I knew that we could count on them to give us some good minutes. That's what happened early in the game. Our starters gave us a 7-0 lead, then when Hiram made its run our bench made the stops and put the game back in our hands."
The Little Giant reserves certainly lived up to their coach's prediction, following their 38-point performance against MacMurray on Sunday with 42 points against Hiram.
The game brought out one of the best offensive showings for the Little Giants this season. Wabash was 53-percent from the field on 31-of-59 shooting, including 63-percent (17-of-27) in the second half. The Little Giants recorded a season-high 21 assists, led by the four assists of a trio of Little Giants - James Bartlett (Louisville, KY/DuPont Manual), Jim Sink (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis), and David Wagner (Belleville, IL/Belleville). Wagner came off the bench to score a career-best 10 points, while Sink added 12 points and six rebounds.
Junior starting guard Brady Claxton (Shelbyville, IN/Shelbyville) led the Little Giant with 16 points. He added three assists to the mix for Wabash. Junior forward Joe DesJean (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) had 15 points, 11 rebounds, and six blocked shots to record his fifth double-double of the season. Ryan Short (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) tossed in 11 points and six rebounds. Kip Chase (Bedford, IN/Bedford North Lawrence) and Nate Bell (Ft. Wayne, IN/Concordia Lutheran) each added eight points. Ryan Smith (Indianapolis, IN/Decatur Central) scored six points, as did Jesse Burgess (Camby, IN/Mooresville).
Wabash moves to 5-6 with the win, 3-1 in the NCAC. The Little Giant will play Allegheny College on Saturday afternoon. The Gators earned a 73-68 win on Friday night at Earlham in NCAC play.