CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN - Wabash fans watched seniors Earl Rooks, Gary Simkus, and Andrew Zimmer take Chadwick Court for the final time in the regular season. Zimmer made the most of Senior Day with career highs of 36 points and 14 rebounds in the Little Giants' 97-73 win against Oberlin.
The three senior players joined senior manager Torm Hustvet at midcourt prior to the tipoff, The excitement started with the introductions and never stopped the remainder of the day. Simkus drove baseline on the first play of the game to score two of his 13 points. Oberlin brought the ball into their offensive end of the floor, but Wes Smith stripped the ball away from Ryan Magiera and drove for any easy layup and a 4-0 lead. (Click here to view photos from the celebration and the game.)
Pat Bernhard hit a three for the Yeomen to cut the lead to one. Oberlin would stay as close as two points over the next five minutes before Simkus started a 13-2 run to put the Little Giants up 28-15.
Oberlin responded with a run of its own, getting as close as four points on a trey by Magiera. The lead was seven at halftime before the seniors put on a show.
Rooks and Simkus combined for six assists in the second, with most of the passes going to the red-hot Zimmer. The senior center hit 6-of-9 shots from the field in the final period, including 4-of-5 from beyond the three-point arc. The trio grabbed a total 14 rebounds in the second half, helping the Little Giants to a total of 53 boards in the game to equal their 53 rebounds against Hiram earlier in the year.
Zimmer's final free throws put Wabash up 24 and topped the 35-point effort he had against Earlham last year, his previous career high. The 36 points were the most scored by a Wabash player in North Coast Athletic Conference play since Josh Estelle '00 put up 36 against Wooster in 2000. Zimmer finished 10-of-19 from the field, 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 11-of-11 from the stripe.
Simkus scored 13 points in addition to his six rebounds, and handed out six assists. Rooks had two assists and three rebounds. Smith tied his season-best mark with 21 points, and grabbed five steals to move into third on the Wabash single-season steals list with 57 and six away from setting the record.
Mike Loll led the Yeomen (4-19, 3-11 NCAC) with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists. Omari Hall came of the bench to score 18 points.
Wabash (15-8, 9-5) could have at least one more home game if the Little Giants finish in the top-four spots in the NCAC standings. The Little Giants remain tied with Kenyon for fourth place after the Lords defeated Allegheny 88-77 this afternoon. Wabash closes out the regular season on the road with games at Wittenberg Wednesday night and Denison on Saturday.
Photos - (top left) Andrew Zimmer drains one of his five three-pointers. He scored a career-high 36 points in his final regular season game at Chadwick Court.
(Bottom right) Gary Simkus scored 13 points, grabbed six rebounds, and finished with six assists on Senior Day.