Less than 24 hours after the Little Giants shot 69 percent from the field, Wabash could manage only six baskets in the first half against DePauw University in the championship game of the Mike Rokicki Community vs. Cancer Tournament. Wabash nearly overcame a 16-point halftime deficit but lost to the Tigers 65-57.
Trailing 5-0 from the outset, the Little Giants fell behind 16 points at the half. Wabash managed baskets from Chase Haltom, Wes Smith, Ben Burkett, Aaron Brock, Aaron Zinnerman, and Derek Bailey in the opening 20 minutes, hitting just six of 30 shot attempts. To add insult to injury, the Little Giants connected on only one long-range shot, going 1-of-14 from beyond the three-point arc.
Wabash began cutting into the Tigers' lead late in the second half. After trading baskets with DePauw for much of the final period, Brock, Smith, and Haltom triggered a 9-0 run with four minutes left to make it a 52-50 contest. DePauw would hold a three-point lead with two minutes left when the Tigers' Sean Haseley stretched the advantage with a key three-pointer to make it a 59-53 contest. The Little Giants would get no closer than four points in the final minute before falling by eight.
The Little Giants shot 31 percent overall from the field, connecting on 17-of-55 overall attempts and 11-of-25 in the second half. Wabash committed 13 turnovers compared to 21 by DePauw, but could not take advantage of the Tigers' miscues. DePauw outscored the Little Giants with 14 points off of turnovers compared to 12 for Wabash.
Smith scored 12 points to earn a place on the All-Tournament team. Burkett and Haltom led the Little Giants in scoring, each finishing with 14 points. Brock added 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Haseley finished with 16 points to lead DePauw (4-0) in scoring.
Wabash (2-3) opens North Coast Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon at Denison University. Tipoff in Granville, Ohio is set for 3 p.m.