CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (Feb. 5) – In a battle between two teams vying for control in the conference standings, Denison (18-2, 10-1) edged out Wabash (13-7, 9-2) in a thrilling 53-51 victory at Chadwick Court. Both teams entered the matchup tied in conference play, and with Wabash's energetic home crowd fueling the intensity, the game delivered a back-and-forth contest that came down to the final moments.

The game remained tight throughout, featuring four lead changes and five ties. Denison took a slim 21-19 lead into the half after a defensive battle in the opening period. Wabash struggled from beyond the arc (2-for-13 in the first half), while Denison found just enough offensive rhythm to hold the edge.

After halftime, the intensity only increased. Denison extended its lead to as many as six, but Wabash responded with a run of its own, briefly taking a two-point lead midway through the second half. The Big Red leaned on Trevor Reed, who led the way with 20 points including four three-pointers. Tyler Miller added eight points and four rebounds, while Aidan King added eight points of his own along with a steal. Cameron Smith controlled the glass for Denison with nine rebounds.

On the other side, Wabash relied heavily on its inside game, scoring 32 points in the paint. Noah Hupmann dominated the boards, pulling down a game-high 15 rebounds.

In the final moments, Denison's defense proved to be the difference. Clinging to a one-point lead in the closing seconds, the Big Red moved the ball down the court forcing Wabash to foul. Darren Rubin secured the win at the free-throw line adding one more point to the scoreboard to close out the contest.

With the victory, Denison improves to 18-2 overall and 10-1 in conference play, while Wabash falls to 13-7 (9-2). The Big Red will return home on Saturday to host Wittenberg at 2:00 p.m., where the team will celebrate Senior Day and Alumni Day.