Joe DesJean (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) (photo right) and Brady Claxton (Shelbyville, IN/Shelbyville) led the way for the Little Giants offensively. Claxton hit three three-pointers in the first half, while DesJean added eight points and six rebounds to keep the Little Giants even with the Battling Bishops in the first half at 34-34. Wabash shot 39.4 percent from the field in the first half, but used free throws to stay in the ballgame. The Little Giants hit 8-of-11 charity tosses in the opening period to remain close. Six first-half turnovers also hurt the Little Giants early in the contest as Ohio Wesleyan took a seven-point lead in the opening period before Wabash could draw even.
Backdoor cuts opened the offense for the Bishops in the first half, and continued in the opening minutes of the second period as Travis Schwab converted a basket and free throw to give Ohio Wesleyan a three-point lead before DesJean and Kip Chase (Bedford, IN/Bedford North Lawrence) responded. DesJean hit a jumper to cut the lead to one, then Chase gave the Little Giants their first lead of the second half on a three-point jumper from the right side. The lead increased to 43-37 when Ryan Short (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) converted a fast break opportunity to complete a 7-0 run.
Wabash increased its lead to eight on consecutive baskets by DesJean and Jim Sink (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis) to move ahead 47-39. Claxton added three more to give the Little Giants an 11-point advantage with 13:18 remaining.
A three by McLarnan cut the Wabash lead to nine with 12 minutes remaining. DesJean tookover midway through the second half. DesJean scored seven of his 16 second-half points in a three-minute stretch to give Wabash a 59-45 lead, then sophomore Ryan Smith (Indianapolis, IN/Decatur Central) added the exclamation point. Smith hit a three-pointer with just over ten minutes remaining to put Wabash in front by 17.
An 8-0 run by the Bishops cut the lead to nine with 6:30 remaining before DesJean and Claxton ended it with two quick baskets to regain the double-digit lead. Ohio Wesleyan trimmed the lead to 10 points with 3:45 left in the contest on a rebound basket by Brandon Cole. After the Little Giants ran over a minute off the clock after missing two shots, Ohio Wesleyan returned the favor. The Bishops missed three consecutive shots, but got the offensive rebounds and finally converted on a three-point play to cut the lead to seven with 1:46 remaining in the contest. After free throws by Claxton put Wabash in front 76-67, junior Kyle Comstock hit a long three from the left side to make it a six-point game with 1:12 left before Wabash hit 5-of-8 free throws in the final minute to secure the win.
DesJean led the Little Giants in scoring with 24 points. Claxton added 18 and Short finished with 11 points. Schwab led Ohio Wesleyan with 26 points.
Wabash (13-10, 10-5 NCAC) will return to Chadwick Court for a final regular season conference game against Oberlin. The action kicks off at noon with the annual alumni game, followed by the varsity contest at 2 p.m.