ALBION – Albion College was staying a step ahead of Wabash College much like the Road Runner did to Wylie E. Coyote in the Merrie Melodies cartoons that used to run on Saturday morning for much of its non-league men's basketball game at Kresge Gymnasium.

With the exception of a possession early in the first half, Albion led until late in the second half, but Ross Sponsler's tip-in with three seconds left lifted Wabash to a 53-51 victory over the Britons.

Albion led by as many as eight in the second half and it had opportunities to extend the margin to double digits. The Britons led 46-39 when Brennan Ackerman made the first of a two-shot free throw opportunity with 6 ½ minutes to play, but Wabash ended the game on a 14-5 run.

A Daniel Purvlicis dunk and Austin Hawn three-point basket tied the score at 46, but Albion didn't surrender the lead as Lawrence Ridgell produced an old-fashioned three-point play.

Hawn tied the score at 49 with his third three-point basket of the game, and Pete Nicksic gave the Little Giants their first lead since the opening minutes with a layup.

Ridgell helped Albion forge a tie at 51 by knocking down a jumper with less than 25 seconds to play. Ridgell led all players with 14 points. Mike Smith was Albion's other double-figure scorer with 10.

Sponsler was the only Wabash player to score in double fiures with 11.

Albion continues non-league play Saturday when it meets Franklin (Ind.) College in the Mike Rokicki Community Versus Cancer Challenge in Greencastle, Ind.