Wabash erased a nine-point deficit with 10 minutes left in the game to defeat DePauw University 65-63 behind a 19-point effort from senior Derek Bailey and 11 points from Andy Walsh.

The Little Giants trailed 46-37 with 10:51 when Walsh exploded for eight points over the next four minutes to cut the Tigers' lead to two points. Aaron Zinnerman drove the lane for a scoop-shot that tied the contest at 52-52 with 6:53 left to play.

DePauw went back in front by three points before Brian Shelbourne's two free throws cut the score to 56-55 with 4:42 remaining. Bailey gave the Little Giants their first lead of the second half 40 seconds later with a jumper from the baseline. DePauw would tie the score at 57-57, but Bailey responded with another clutch shot, this time outside the arc at the top of the key to put the Little Giants up three.

Walsh and Bailey would both score in the closing minute to put the Little Giants in front by five, but DePauw's Michael Wilkison drilled a triple with eight seconds left to trim the advantage to 65-63. After a Tiger timeout, the Little Giants were unable to inbound the basketball, turning the ball over on the DePauw side of the floor with seven seconds left to play. Wilkinson got a final shot away before the buzzer from the top of the key, but this time his effort sailed to the right of the basket to give Wabash the victory.

Zinnerman finished with 14 points, while Walsh and Pete Nicksic each tallied 11.

"I was really pleased the way Walsh and Nicksic both played tonight," Wabash head coach Antoine Carpenter said. "Andy hit some really big shots to keep us in the game. Pete took some good shots inside, and hit them at a time when we had our second unit on the floor and really needed someone to step up and be a scorer. Walsh and Nicksic both did that."

Bailey, who had struggled from the field in his last two games, hit 7-of-14 attempts including 3-of-6 three-point shots.

"We really played as a team tonight," Bailey said. "We did a better job of finding openings and getting good shots. I hit that first basket and just felt like I had someone telling me to relax and just play. We all relaxed a bit more on offense and just let the open shots come to us."

"Obviously we're a little different team when Derek is hitting his shots," Carpenter said. "It not only gives us a solid scoring threat, but Derek helps the rest of our offense become more balanced."

The victory gives Wabash a split with the Tigers in North Coast Athletic Conference after DePauw won at Chadwick Court three weeks ago. The Little Giants won an earlier non-conference game in Greencastle over the Tigers to take two out of three for the season.

The win also broke a tie between the two schools in the conference standings. Both squads entered the night with 6-4 league records. Wabash is now tied for third in the NCAC with Ohio Wesleyan after the Battling Bishops lost to Wittenberg.

Barry Flynn led DePauw (12-8, 6-5 NCAC) with 14 points after being held to only two points in the first half. Wilkison added 12, while Connor Rich tallied 11 points in his first career start.

Wabash (15-5, 7-4 NCAC) travels to second-place Wooster on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest. The Scots defeated Denison Wednesday night 89-70 for their fifth consecutive victory.