The Little Giant basketball players knew they would have to get out to a fast start against the College of Wooster in Saturday afternoon's North Coast Athletic Conference game. But knowing and executing oroved to be two different things at Timken Gymnasium as Wabash fell behind 12-0 at the start on the way to 96-52 defeat at the hands of the Fighting Scots.
Wabash wouldn't get its first basket until Andrew Zimmer's jumper nearly four minutes into the contest. The Little Giants struggled offensively throughout the entire first half, committing 12 turnovers while shooting only 31.8 percent from the field (7-of-22). The Little Giants also missed all ten of their three-point attempts in the opening half, eventually trailing 47-22 at the break.
The Scots stretched the lead to 33 points to start the second period. Wabash tried to rally, twice cutting the lead to 28 points on three-pointers by Andy Root. Wooster's defense continued to force turnovers in the second half, forcing the Little Giants into a season-high 26 for the game.
The Little Giants finished 20-of-53 from the field, including just 4-of-22 from behind the three-point arc. Root and Zimmer each had 10 points to lead the Little Giants in scoring. Wooster was led by the 18-point effort of James Cooper.
Wabash (4-11, 1-5 NCAC) returns to Chadwick Court Wednesday evening for a 7:30 p.m. NCAC game against in-state rival Earlham College.
Photos - (top left) Junior Andrew Zimmer drives for two of his 10 points in the Little Giants' loss at Wooster.
(main page image) Brian Maloney made this unconstested layup after picking up a steal at midcourt. Maloney finished with six points.