Wabash Tops Franklin in Tonight's Second Rokicki Challenge Game

November 28, 2009

November 28, 2009, Greencastle, Ind. — Wabash placed six players in double figures and advanced to the Mike Rokicki Community Versus Cancer Challenge title game following a 95-84 win over Franklin.

The Little Giants improved to 2-2 on the season and face DePauw in Sunday's 4 p.m. title game, while Franklin dropped to 1-3 and tangles with Washington and Jefferson in the 2 p.m. third-place game. DePauw defeated the President's by a 76-68 score in tonight's first game.

The teams battled through a tight first half before the Little Giants used a 12-2 run to take a 37-25 lead with 6:56 left in the first half. The margin reached as many as 14 late in the half and Wabash headed to the break with a 52-39 lead. Wabash shot 63.6 percent in the opening half, while Franklin knocked in 54.8 percent of its shots.

Wabash shot a blistering (17-22) 77.3 percent in the second half to the Grizzlies' 54.5 percent and led by as many as 21 on three occasions. Franklin got no closer than 11 during the second half.

Wes Smith paced Wabash with 15 points and six steals, while Ben Burkett scored 14 and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. Chase Haltom followed with 13 with Brian Shelbourne, Aaron Brock and Nick Curosh each scoring 10. Aaron Zinnerman led with five assists.

Will Conoley led the Grizzlies with 26 points followed by Clay Starrett and Gunner Erwin with 13 apiece and Scott Trueblood with 12. Starrett led with five assists.

Wabash shot 69.1 percent for the game, while Franklin shot 54.7 percent. The Grizzlies held a 27-26 advantage on the boards.

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