Two late free throws by Wes Smith gave Wabash a 63-61 victory at Oberlin Saturday afternoon in North Coast Athletic Conference basketball action.
Smith went to the stripe with five seconds left in a tie game and drilled two tosses to give Wabash the lead and the eventual victory. (View the Quicktime video of Smith's drive to the basket and the final turnover by Oberlin while setting up for the possible game-winning shot here.)
The free throw line was a key to the game for both teams. The Yeomen had no problem scoring from the field, but hit just 7-of-14 charity tosses. Wabash finished 15-of-24 from the line for the game.
Oberlin still had a chance to tie or win the game, but turned the basketball over trying to work up court for the final shot of the game. Smith, who finished with 20 points, was fouled once again with one second remaining, but missed the first free throw. He attempted to fire the last shot off the rim to keep the Yeomen from getting into a set play, but the attempt missed to give the Yeomen one final play. The Yeomen could not get a shot attempt away, giving the Little Giants the win.
Good offensive ball movement helped Wabash take an early lead thanks to good ball movement and key shots. The Little Giants raced out to an 8-2 lead behind baskets by Aaron Brock, Ben Burkett, and Chase Haltom. Oberlin responded with two three-pointers to tie the game at 10-10. Smith and Brian Shelbourne put Wabash on top again before two three-pointers by Dominique Thomas stretched the lead back in favor of Wabash.
Wabash took a nine-point lead late in the first half despite 12 points by Jordan Beard. The Little Giants put their defensive clamps on Beard in the second period, holding him to five points for 17 in the game. While Beard was held in check, Wabash was unable to extend its lead in the second half. Oberlin’s Josh Merritt hit back-to-back jumpers to open the second period, trimming the Little Giants’ lead to three points. Oberlin eventually took its first lead with 14 minutes left to play, capping a 10-3 run with a three-pointer by Ryan Magiera.
The Little Giants answered right back with a layup by Brian Maloney, but fell behind once again on back-to-back baskets by Dahsan Gary and Omari Hall. Once again Wabash responded with two three-pointers by Haltom and a turn-around jumper by Derek Bailey.
Oberlin would not let Wabash race away, instead going back in front thanks to a 7-0 run to move back in front 54-52. Burkett ended the run with two free throws, tying the game at 54-54 with five minutes left. The two teams traded points before tying the game at 61-61 when Merritt scored his 15th point of the game on a driving layup with 13 seconds left to set up the final heroics for Wabash.
The Little Giants got the ball in Smith’s hands in the final seconds. After a drive to the lane, Smith pulled up for a jumper to try to hit the final shot of the contest, but was fouled by Gary as the shot rolled off the rim to set up the final few plays of the game.
Wabash forced 18 turnovers and scored 24 points on those miscues, but could not keep the Yeomen from lighting up the nets when they did manage to get off a shot. Oberlin was 23-of-40 from the field, including an 8-for-12 effort from beyond the three-point arc. Wabash was 21-of-54 from the field for 38.9 percent, but dominated the offensive glass with 16 boards leading to eight second-chance baskets.
Haltom scored nine points in addition to Smith’s 20-point effort. Shelbourne equaled his season-high with eight points and handed out a career-best six assists.
Beard finished with 17 points to lead Oberlin (5-18, 2-12 NCAC) in scoring. Merritt’s 15 points were joined by an 11-point effort by Hall.
Wabash (10-12, 5-9 NCAC) moves into a tie for seventh in the NCAC standings with two games remaining in the regular season schedule. The Little Giants return to Chadwick Court for their final regular season home game against Wittenberg University at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Photo - Wes Smith drives for an easy layup in the first half against Oberlin. Photo by Brian Hodgkin.