Ferguson scored six of the first 14 points while the Wabash defense held Averett scoreless for the first ten minutes of the game. The Little Giants increased their lead to 30 at halftime, shooting 51-percent from the field (18-of-35) while holding the Cougars to 20-percent (6-of-30). Ferguson finished the game nearly perfect from the field, hitting 7-of-8 shots and scoring 15 points to lead the Little Giants.
Wabash controlled the paint, scoring 26 points in the lane, including 11 from senior All-American Joe DesJean (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) (photo). DesJean had already reached double-figures in rebounds at halftime with 10, adding only one more in the second half to finish with 11. He added two assists and two blocked shots to his season totals, as well. Wabash scored a total of 21 points from the inside combination of starting center Jesse Burgess (Camby, IN/Mooresville), along with reserves Ryan Short (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) and Eric Buck (Indianapolis, IN/Cardinal Ritter). Burgess scored eight points, Short added four, and Buck netted nine points in the win.
The Little Giants also found the range from outside. Senior guard Brady Claxton (Shelbyville, IN/Shelbyville) added 11 points to the Wabash offensive attack. Claxton fired home three three-pointers, while reserve guard Kip Chase (Bedford, IN/Bedford North Lawrence) added two bombs for six points.
Junior guard Jake Vereen rallied the Cougars in the second half. Averett tried to cut into the Wabash lead, shooting 54-percent on 18-of-33 from the field in the final period. But Wabash would not relinquish the lead, despite a team-high 13 points from Vereen and 12 points from Andre Gills.
The Little Giants will try to win their sixth Pete Thorn title on Saturday. Wabash will play Marian College out of Indianapolis in the championship game at 3 p.m. The Knights rallied from a13-point deficit in the second half to take Kalamazoo College to double overtime, taking a 91-82 victory to advance to the championship game. Brad Metzger led the Knights with 27 points. Tim Adams tossed in 24 points for Marian. Nathan Burns had 19 points in a losing effort for the Hornets.
Kalamazoo and Averett will meet in the consolation game of the tournament at 1 p.m. at Chadwick Court on Saturday prior to the start of the championship game between Wabash and Marian at 3 p.m.