If Sunday night's Super Bowl game is as exciting as the afternoon's basketball contest between Wabash and Wooster, then Colts and Saints fans will enjoy a thriller.
Aaron Brock's three free throws with 41 seconds left to play tied the game at 59-59, but the 21st-ranked Scots outscored Wabash 5-2 in the closing minute to escape Chadwick Court with a 64-61 victory. For game photos, click here.
The Little Giants fired up two shots in the closing minute, missing both. Sophomore Derek Bailey, back in the lineup for the first time since suffering a concussion two weeks earlier, snared two offensive boards and eventually found Brock (right) open on the left side of the floor. Brock fired a trey that missed, but was fouled by Wooster's Brandon Johnson. The leading free throw shooter for Wabash calmly connected on all three free throws to even the score.
The Scots responded with a driving layup by Ian Franks with less than 30 seconds left. Wabash drove down, looking for a drive from leading scorer Wes Smith. Smith and Bryan Wickliffe collided on the drive with Smith picking up his fifth foul on a charge call. The Little Giants fouled immediately after the turnover, sending Johnson to the stripe to hit one of two attempts for a three-point lead for Wooster.
Brock fired another three at the other end and missed, but Bailey was there once again, grabbing the rebound and hitting a putback basket with five second left to make it a 62-61 game. The Little Giants fouled to stop the clock again, but this time Matt Fegan hit both tosses to stretch the lead to three. Chase Haltom tried to rush down court in the final seconds, but Johnson stole the ball away before the Wabash guard could launch a potential buzzer-beating effort to send the game into overtime.
Highlights - Wabash vs. Wooster
The contest was game of spurts with 11 ties and 11 lead changes. The Scots took an early seven-point lead before Wabash rallied to tie the score at 11-11 thanks to a 9-2 run. The Little Giants continued to score, eventually taking a 20-13 advantage before Wooster rallied to eventually take a 32-27 halftime lead.
Brock finished with 20 points and eight rebounds. Smith scored 18 points and had six boards and three assists before fouling out of the contest.
Nathan Balch led the Scots (17-4, 12-0 NCAC) with 17 points. Ian Franks added 13 points, while Johnson added 11. Wickliffe finished with 10 points and six boards.
Wabash falls for the second time at home this season, dropping to 13-7 overall and 8-4 in the NCAC. The Little Giants travel to Ohio Wesleyan University Wednesday evening for an 8 p.m. game