Wabash got 15 points from reserves Brian Maloney and Andrew Gilman in the first half against the 15th-ranked College of Wooster Saturday afternoon, but it was not enough to boost the Little Giants to the win. The Scots swept the two-game season series with an 83-71 victory at Wooster Saturday afternoon.
Maloney saw early action after senior Andrew Zimmer picked up his second foul less than five minutes in the contest. Maloney made an immediate impact, scoring the next seven points for the Little Giants over a two-minute stretch to give Wabash a five-point lead.
Gilman, who had gone scoreless in six previous appearances, connected on two three-pointers while going 3-for-4 from the field in the opening period. His trey with 8:34 left in the half tied the game at 25-25. Chase Haltom added another three before Gilman hit from long range once again for the biggest Wabash lead of the game at 31-25.
The Scots (18-3, 11-1 NCAC) responded with a 6-0 run to tie the game at 31-31 before doubling the Wabash scoring output over the final five minutes of the half for a 43-37 lead at the break.
Wabash cut the lead to four points early in the second half on a basket by Zimmer, only to see Wooster move back in front by 11. The Little Giants tried to trim the deficit once again, getting as close as 61-55 midway through the half on a three-pointer by Gary Simkus. The Scots pushed the advantage back up to 10 points and held the double-digit scoring lead throughout the remainder of the half.
Simkus hit 9-of-11 shots for 20 points to lead the Little Giants. Zimmer added 12. Gilman and Maloney both went scoreless in the second half to finish with eight and seven points, respectively.
James Cooper paced the Scots with 20, while Evan Will scored 16 and Brandon Johnson added 14.
Wabash (13-8, 7-5 NCAC) returns to Chadwick Court Wednesday night to play in-state rival Earlham College at 7:30 p.m.