Four Wabash players reached double figures in a season-opening 96-88 victory over Kentucky Christian College in the annual Little Giant Tipoff Classic at Chadwick Court Friday night.

Freshman Wesley Smith (left) matched his uniform number, posting a team-high 21 points in his Wabash debut. The rookie was one of four Little Giant players to reach double figures in scoring. Pre-season All-American Andrew Zimmer finished with 15. Fellow senior Gary Simkus returned to the team after spending the 2007 spring semester in Spain to score 13 points. Aaron Brock added 12. (View photos from the Little Giants victory here.) 

The Little Giants hit three three-pointers to open the ball game. Simkus drained the first shot of the season, followed by a trey from senior guard Earl Rooks. An Andy Root three put the Little Giants in front 9-2. A Zimmer layup pushed the lead to nine points before Kentucky Christian battled back to within two points.

Matt Hackenberg gave the Knights their first lead of the game with a driving layup at the 4:38 mark of the first half. Wabash outscored KCC 10-3 over the final three minutes of the half to take a 52-46 edge into the locker room.

The Little Giants eventually stretched the lead to 13 points on a Smith layup with 12:38 to go in the contest. Hackenberg and Akeem Scott tried to draw the Knights back into the game, trimming the lead to eight points with 1:20 left in the contest. Hackenberg finished the evening with 24 points, eight assists, and four rebounds. Scott added 21 points and seven boards.

Wabash's balanced scoring proved to be too much for the Knights. The Little Giants scored 44 points in the paint, but still hit 11 three-pointers. Eight Wabash players hit threes in the game, led by two each for Root, Chase Haltom, Collin Smith, and Brock. The Little Giants were 38-of-76 in the opener for 50 percent.

Wesley Smith added nine rebounds and an assist to his first game totals. Zimmer had eight boards and two blocked shots.

The Little Giants play Indiana Wesleyan at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon in the Classic finale. IWU defeated Humber College from Canada 72-66. Humber and KCC play at 1 p.m.

Photo - Gary Simkus returned to the Wabash lineup, scoring 13 points in the Little Giants' victory.

Results: Wabash 96, Kentucky Christian 88