The Wabash College basketball team put together an impressive stretch of games over winter break, displaying offensive firepower, defensive intensity and late-game composure while navigating non-conference tests and a demanding North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) schedule. Across the eight game span, the Little Giants posted key wins, endured a setback and firmly established themselves among the NCAC’s top contenders.
Wabash started winter break on the road at Anderson University with a 96–88 victory over the Ravens. Rich Brooks ’26 made seven of his eight 3-point attempts and led the way for Wabash scorers with 28 points, a career-high performance. Colton Stowers ’29 and Luke Ellspermann ’29 contributed with 16 and 11 points respectively. The game was tied at 41 points a piece at halftime, but Wabash pulled away in the last 5 minutes, going on a 10–4 run.
Wabash opened the Lee’s Famous Recipe Classic in emphatic fashion with an 82–67 non-conference victory over Berea College. Ellspermann delivered an amazing performance, scoring a career-high 28 points as the Little Giants buried 10 three-pointers in the first half to build a commanding 48–23 halftime lead. Wabash shot 53.8% from the field and never trailed after the opening minutes. Despite a late Berea push, Ellspermann’s timely baskets sealed the win, while Deric Cannady ’29 added 14 points and seven assists.
“I have really been focused on getting downhill on defenders and being physical around the rim,” said Ellspermann. “My teammates have done a great job trusting me and finding me when I am open.”
The Little Giants followed that performance by closing the Classic with a 75–62 win over the host school, Centre College. Josh Whack ’26 and Gavin Schippert ’26 each scored 20 points as Wabash outscored Centre 42–27 in the second half after trailing 35–33 at halftime. Wabash used a decisive 10–3 run midway through the second half to take control. Whack’s flawless free-throw shooting down the stretch helped secure Wabash’s fourth straight win to close the calendar year.
Wabash opened the 2026 portion of its schedule with a home non-conference matchup against Trine University. The Little Giants played evenly through the first half and held a slim 26–25 lead at the break, but a strong Trine surge early in the second half proved decisive. Despite late baskets and a continued effort, Wabash fell 54–63 as the Thunder capitalized on second-half momentum and bench scoring.
The Little Giants quickly rebounded with a significant NCAC victory, defeating defending conference champion, Denison University, 64–59 at Chadwick Court. Wabash jumped out to an 11–2 start and maintained control for most of the contest. Denison mounted a late rally to pull within two points in the final minute, but Wabash remained poised at the free-throw line. Ellspermann led the way with 14 points while Cannady added 12 off the bench. The win handed Denison its first conference loss of the season and tightened the NCAC standings.
Wabash carried that momentum on the road with an 89–80 conference victory over the College of Wooster. The Little Giants dominated the first half, shooting 62.5% from the field and building a 48–26 halftime lead. Wooster made a spirited second-half comeback, but Wabash’s early cushion proved to be too much to overcome. Ellspermann scored 19 points, Stowers added 17 points and Whack chipped in 15 points as Wabash secured its third win in the last four trips to Wooster.
Back at Chadwick Court, Wabash delivered another strong conference performance with an 82–67 win over Ohio Wesleyan. A blistering first half and balanced scoring effort defined the victory, as the Little Giants built a 42–24 halftime lead and responded to every Ohio Wesleyan run. Five Wabash players scored in double figures, led by Brooks with 16 points. The Little Giants shot 54.5% from the field and controlled the paint, reinforcing their status as one of the league’s most complete teams.
“It is really hard for the opposing team to focus on two to three guys on our team when we have six guys averaging in the double digits,” said Head Basketball Coach Kyle Brumett. “We just have a lot of guys that have really bought into how we have built the team and not caring about individual success more than the team’s success.”
Wabash capped the stretch with a gritty 75–70 road win at Kenyon College, leaning once again on Ellspermann’s scoring prowess. The freshman poured in 27 points as the Little Giants built a 20-point first-half lead and withstood a late Kenyon charge. Though free-throw struggles allowed the Owls to stay close, the Little Giant’s shooting in the final minutes sealed Wabash’s fourth straight victory and kept the Little Giants alone atop the NCAC standings.
On Wednesday night, Wabash traveled to Springfield, Ohio to take on the Wittenberg Tigers for the last game of the first half of the regular season. Within the first eight minutes of the game, Wabash struggled to find its rhythm as the Little Giants found themselves trailing 6–16. The Tigers held the double digit lead until the final three minutes of the first half where the Little Giants cut the difference to six points by the time the buzzer sounded.
For the first ten minutes of the second half, Wabash kept the deficit in the single digits, but as the eight-minute mark hit, the Little Giants tied it up at 55 points a piece. In the remaining time, however, the Tigers regained the lead and made key shots down the stretch to secure a 73–65 win over Wabash.
Despite Wednesday night’s loss, Wabash demonstrated depth, balance, and resilience over break. Ellspermann emerged as a consistent offensive catalyst, while veterans like Whack and Schippert provided leadership in key moments. With strong performances at home and on the road, the Little Giants positioned themselves as a formidable force as conference play continues.
Wabash will host John Carroll on Saturday, January 24, at Chadwick Court. Tip-off is scheduled at 2 p.m. EST.