The Scots (18-2, 11-1) shot 60.5 percent from the field in the second half, including a 9-of-10 shooting performance to open the second half. Wabash saw its halftime deficit go from 12 to 24 .
The Little Giants opened the game with two quick baskets to take a 4-2 lead before the Scots raced out to a 12-6 advantage. After Wooster kicked its lead to nine, the Little Giants began to take control on defense. Wabash held the Scot scoreless for the next five minutes, but could only shave six points of the lead. Wooster regained its nine-point advantage and added to it by scoring 15 points off of turnovers and 11 points on offensive rebounds, going to the locker room with a 45-33 halftime lead.
"We gave up three three-pointers in the first five minutes of the game," said coach Mac Petty. " If we don’t give Wooster those three’s it’s a tie-game at 17-17. Then we could have taken a six point lead instead of having to cut into their lead."
It didn’t take the Scots or the officials long to make their their presence known in the second half. Wooster went on a 15-3 run to open the second half that was only interrupted by a Matt Storm three-pointer and a unexplained technical foul on the Wabash bench. As Ryan Short (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) missed the first of two free throws, a technical foul was called on the Little Giant bench. Wooster’s Nate Gaubatz made the two free thows, and the Scots took control from there.
The few shots that Wooster missed still helped as the Scots grabbed five offensive rebounds in the second half, converting them into four second-chance points.
Joe DesJean (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) (photo) led Wabash by recording his 11th double-double of the season. The sophomore forward led all scorers with 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He added four blocked shots to his North Coast Athletic Conference leading total. Short and Pleas Ferguson (Indianapolis, IN/Arsenal Tech) added 14 points for Wabash, while Jeff Espino (Mission, TX/Mission) had eight coming off the bench.
The Little Giants move to 10-10 with the loss, falling to fourth place in the NCAC standings with an 8-4 record. Wabash travels to Wittenberg on Wednesday evening.