Wabash erased a 16-point deficit against Ohio Wesleyan with a 12-1 run late in Wednesday night’s North Coast Athletic Conference basketball game, but could not draw even with the Battling Bishops in a 73-67 loss at Chadwick Court.
The defeat overshadowed senior Chase Haltom’s 12-point effort, making him the 25th player in Little Giant basketball history to score 1,000 points for a career. Haltom scored his 1,000th point on the opening basket of the game, cutting to the basket from the left side to take a pass from Brian Shelbourne for a wide-open layup and 2-0 Wabash lead --- the only lead of the game for the Little Giants.
The loss also ended a seven-game winning streak for Wabash, the longest by a Little Giant team since winning nine in a row during the 2005-06 season. That nine-game streak was also ended by Ohio Wesleyan with a 61-55 victory by the Battling Bishops in Delaware, Ohio. Wabash had won all seven of its home games this season coming into the evening and eight consecutive games at Chadwick Court overall.
Trailing 68-53 with 4:30 left in the contest, Wabash scored ten unanswered points to trim the Bishop’s lead to five points with 1:19 remaining. After an Andy Winters free throw, Haltom responded with two charity tosses of his own to make it a 69-65 contest.
The Little Giants had opportunities down the stretch but could not capitalize. A missed free throw by Wes Smith --- one of ten on the evening for Wabash --- led to an Aaron Brock rebound. The senior could not get the put-back effort to fall, however, and the loose ball fell out of bounds with the possession going to OWU. The Bishops hit three of their four free throw attempts in the final 19 seconds to put the game away, stretching Ohio Wesleyan’s winning streak to six games.
OWU connected on 27-of-59 attempts for the game, including 6-of-12 three-point attempts for a team hitting 31-percent from beyond the arc on the season. Four of those treys came in the first half to help the Bishops take a 16-point lead with 6:53 left to play in the first period and a 10-point advantage into the locker room at halftime.
The Little Giants struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 7-of-21 three-point attempts including a 2-for-12 effort in the final period.
Brock finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds --- both game highs. Haltom and Ben Burkett each added 12 points, while Wes Smith has held to 11 points and eight rebounds but added four assists. Haltom also dished out four assists for the Little Giants.
Tim Brady scored 22 points to pace OWU. Marshall Morris finished with 15 points, while NCAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week Pat Pellerite added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Andy Winters had a game-high eight assists for the Bishops (9-9, 6-3 NCAC).
Wabash (11-6, 6-3) NCAC falls into a tie for second place in the conference standings with Ohio Wesleyan, Wittenberg, and Allegheny. The Little Giants travel to Kenyon College Saturday afternoon for a 1 p.m. tip.
Photos - (top right) Chase Haltom scores the first two points of the game for Wabash and his 1,000th career point. He finished with 12 points in a losing effort for the Little Giants.
(Bottom left) Ben Burkett scored 1w points and had three blocked shots for Wabash. The loss to Ohio Wesleyan ended a seven-game winning streak and an eight-game home winning streak.
