CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (February 23, 2024) – In front of a sellout crowd at Chadwick Court, the 2024 North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament run for the fourth-seeded Denison University men's basketball team came to an end in the semifinals with a 78-63 loss to the top-seeded team in the tournament and the two-time defending conference tournament champion, Wabash College, on Friday night.

Despite connecting on five 3-pointers, Denison trailed 46-25 at halftime after shooting just 9-for-27 from the field and allowing the Little Giants to get to the free throw line for 13 shots, 10 of which were converted on. Wabash also nearly doubled up the Big Red on the boards (25-13) in the first half and held an 8-2 advantage on the offensive glass, leading to a 13-2 advantage on second chance points.

Denison got to within 14 points (65-51) after the fourth 3-pointer by Cameron Smith with eight and a half minutes remaining, but a dunk by Wabash's big man, Noah Hupmann, two possessions later helped get the crowd back into it and keep all of the momentum in the Little Giants' favor.

Hupmann then tore the roof of the gym with a highlight reel two-handed slam to make the score 74-56 with four and a half minutes left.

A putback layup by Nick Heath made it a 13-point game (74-61) with two and a half minutes remaining, but that is the closest the Big Red would get after facing a 21-point halftime deficit.

Denison entered the game ranked second in the NCAC at 75.3 points per game while Wabash was first in scoring defense at 66.2 points per game, and this time the defense of the Little Giants is what helped win the day as the Big Red made eight 3-pointers but shot just 33.3 percent from the field in both halves.

The Big Red were, however, a very impressive 17-for-20 (85 percent) from the free throw line in the second half.

For Denison, Ricky Radtke scored a game-high 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field and a 7-for-8 mark from the free throw line.

Smith was next with 16 points after also shooting 5-for-9 form the field and making four of his six 3-point attempts. Smith added a team-high six rebounds as well.

Denison's season comes to an end with an overall record of 15-12. This was the Big Red's fourth straight and seventh overall NCAC semifinals appearance in the last eight seasons. Wabash (19-8), meanwhile, advances to the championship game for the third year in a row and will play the second-seeded College of Wooster (18-9) starting at 4 p.m. in an effort to go to the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row as well.