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A slow start to the second half led to a fifth straight road loss for the Wabash basketball team Sunday afternoon. The Little Giants watched a four-point halftime deficit turn into a 78-60 defeat at the College of Wooster.
The loss came despite a 18-point, six-rebound effort from junior Wes Smith (left), who added a steal to tie Mike Holcomb ’82 for the career Wabash record for steals with 143. Smith left the game late with a concussion, well after the outcome had been decided.
Wabash’s only lead came early when the Little Giants turned three early misses into offensive rebounds before Aaron Brock cashed in with a three-pointer for a 3-2 advantage. The Scots connected on their first five shots of the game to race out a 15-7 lead, eventually taking a 13-point lead before the Little Giants would mount a rally.
Free throws from Brock and Smith were followed by a jumper from Brian Shelbourne and another basket from Brock, cutting the lead to 34-30 in favor of Wooster. Ben Burkett drew the Little Giants to within a point with two free throws with 1:32 left in the half before a three-pointer from Wooster freshman Josh Claytor gave the Scots the 40-36 halftime edge.
Wooster scored the first seven points of the second half before Smith’s three-point play with 17:29 showing on the game clock made it a 47-39 contest. That would be the last points for the Little Giants over the next six minutes. The Scots stretched the lead to 20 points, never allowing Wabash to get any closer than 13 points over ten minutes of the contest.
The Little Giants committed three first half turnovers, but lost the basketball four times in addition to missing four shots during that six-minute drought. Wabash finished the game with 12 turnovers while shooting 12-of-47 from the field. The Scots (6-4, 3-0 NCAC) were 29-of-59 from the field behind the 21-point effort of Ian Franks. Bryan Wickliffe added 15 points, while Claytor finished with 13.
Brock added 10 points for the Little Giants, while Aaron Zinnerman scored nine points coming off the bench. Derek Bailey finished with seven in a reserve roll for the Little Giants, as well.
Wabash (4-5, 0-2 NCAC) returns to action on January 2, 2010 with a home game against Franklin College. The Little Giants defeated the Franklin 95-84 in the Mike Rokicki Community vs. Cancer Tournament at DePauw University earlier this season.
