Aaron Brock's layup with 15 seconds left could not help Wabash hold off Earlham Wednesday night. The Quaker's Tristian Gregory drilled a three-pointer with one second remaining in the game to give Earlham a 68-67 win in North Coast Athletic Conference hoops action at Chadwick Court.
Brock's season-high 22 points, including 18 in the second half, helped Wabash cut into an Earlham eight-point midway through the final period. Brock scored the final seven points of the game for the Little Giants, including a three-point play on a layup and free throw with 58 seconds left to put the Little Giants up 65-62. Justin Berger's three answered for Earlham to tie the game for the 12th time. (View photos from the game here.)
Brock got the ball inside on the left block with the clock winding down. The junior forward turned and ducked under the defender, driving to the basket for what might have been the game-winner for Wabash.
Gregory took the basketball for Earlham after the Quakers took a timeout, faked a drive to the basket, then calmly fired a 22-foot jumper that sailed through the basket with one second showing on the game clock.
The Little Giants worked up a play in their huddle after taking their own timeout before firing a three-quarter court pass to Brock. The ball was knocked into the hands of Dominique Thomas, but he was unable to launch a shot as Tarrell Berry wrapped him up as the horn sounded.
Wabash had several opportunities to try and take over the game, but missed several inside shots in the first half while shooting 11-of-33 from the field. The Little Giants were 26-of-62 (41.9 percent) from the field for the game, but just 4-of-21 (19 percent) from beyond the three-point arc despite the fact Earlham came into the contest as the third-worst field goal defensive team in the nation at 52.4 percent. Wabash was 1-of-9 from long distance in the final period.
A loud and raucous crowd watched throughout the game. Local fans were split between cheering for the Little Giants and rooting for Earlham's two Montgomery County players, AJ Sutherlin and Kyle Calder. Wabash sophomore Ben Burkett proved to be perhaps the best local player on the floor in the game, however. Burkett grabbed a career-best 12 rebounds while narrowly missing his first career double-double by finishing with nine points. The Southmont High School product is averaging 10.3 points and seven boards in his last three games.
Senior Brian Maloney scored 10 points in the losing effort for the Little Giants. Wes Smith, the Little Giants' leading scorer at 17.3 points a game, did not start for the first time in his Wabash career after he was seriously injured in Saturday's win over Oberlin. He still finished with seven points, three rebounds, two assists, and a blocked shot in 16 minutes of play.
Shane Heidt added 16 points for Earlham (2-14, 2-5 NCAC). Barger and Sutherlin each had nine points.
Wabash falls to 8-7 with the loss and 3-4 in the NCAC. The Little Giants conclude their three-game conference home stand Saturday evening with a 7:30 contest against Denison.
Photos - (top right) Aaron Brock's final basket might have given Wabash the win, but a last-second three-pointer by Earlham proved to be the difference.
(Bottom left) Sophomore Ben Burkett continued to provide valuable minutes coming off the bench. The Montgomery County native finished with nine points a game-high 12 rebounds.