Wabash was able to reduce its turnover total to 12 for the game, committing just three in the first half. A 15-0 run to end the first half didn’t hurt the Wabash effort, either.
The Little Giants were in a dogfight early, unable to put together any kind of a run against the Big Red. Wabash took a 12-8 lead early in the contest, only to see Denison move back in front after two layups and a free throw. A three-pointer by Brady Claxton (Shelbyville, IN/Shelbyville) gave Wabash the advantage once again, but the Little Giants still could not shake Denison.
Trailing by one with 5:35 left in the first half, the Little Giants were able to put some distance between themselves and the Big Red. Two free throws by Jesse Burgess (Camby, IN/Mooresville) gave Wabash a one-point lead that soon stretched to 14 when the Little Giants ended the half with their big run.
The Little Giants not only did a good job of holding on to the basketball in the first half, they also took advantage of 12 first-half turnovers by the Big Red. Wabash scored 15 points off of Denison miscues, while the Big Red were unable to score any points off of the three Wabash turnovers. The Little Giants also hit 7-of-8 free throws and 5-of-8 three pointers in the first 20 minutes to earn the 14-point lead.
DesJean had already scored half of his points in the opening period. The senior forward hit 5-of-10 shots, including his first three-pointer of the season, while adding three rebounds, an assist, a block, and two steals to his game totals. Claxton scored all 12 of his points in the opening period to help the Little Giants to their lead.
The rest of the starters pitched in as Wabash maintained its lead in the second half. Burgess continued to perform in the second half, finishing the game with 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field and 6-of-9 shooting from the free throw line. Senior Pleas Ferguson (Indianapolis, IN/Arsenal Tech) added eight points, and David Wagner (Belleville, IL/Belleville) had four points and a team-high four steals. DesJean finished the game with eight rebounds and three blocked shots in addition to his 30 points.
Wabash never let its lead fall below ten points in the second half to earn a victory in its opening game of the season in the North Coast Athletic Conference. The win was the fifth of the season for the Little Giants against two losses.
Wabash will take the week off before returning to the hardwood on Friday in the second game of the 12th Annual Pete Thorn Invitational. Marian College will play Kalamazoo College on Friday night at 6 p.m. in the opening game before the Little Giants play Averett University out of Danville, Virginia at 8 p.m. The consolation game will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Chadwick Court, while the championship game will be played at 3 p.m.