Wabash connected on 7-of-10 threes in the first half to stay within six points of the Vikings. Junior reserve center Eric Buck (Indianapolis, IN/Cardinal Ritter) led the way for Wabash, hitting two of his career-high four three-pointers in the first half. Buck scored a career-high 17 points for the Little Giants in the win.
How good was the three-point shooting for Wabash? The Little Giants got a layup by Joe DesJean (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) with 8:26 remaining in the first half and would not score another two-point basket until early in the second half. Wabash closed the half with six threes over the final five minutes of the first half.
Wabash trailed 47-41 at the half despite the long-range shooting expertise. The Vikings would take a seven-point lead to open the second half before Wabash went on a 7-1 run that was capped by a layup by Buck to tie the game at 51-51 with 14:27 left in the contest.
The Little Giants jumped out to an 11-point lead with five minutes remaining, only to see North Park cut that advantage to two points with :15 left in the game. Free throws by Ryan Short (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) and Jim Sink (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis) would give Wabash a three-point victory at the buzzer.
Junior Joe DesJean (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) was nearly perfect from the field. He finished the game 9-10, his only miss coming on a three-point attempt in the second half. He led Wabash with 22 points and 11 rebounds to record his sixth double-double of the season. Brady Claxton (Shelbyville, IN/Shelbyville) added 11 points, and Sink finished with 10 for Wabash.
Wabash finished 9-of-17 from the three-point arc. The Little Giants won the rebound battle 36-31.
Wabash (6-7) will return to North Coast Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon as the College of Wooster travels to Chadwick Court for a 1 p.m. contest.