CRAWFORDSVILLE, Indiana - November 30, 2024 - Ivan Yang scored a career-high 27 points, but the interior presence of the Terriers wasn't enough in a 77-64 loss to the defending NCAC Champions, Wabash, on Saturday afternoon at Chadwick Court.

Yang added 12 rebounds to give him his third double-double of the season, while Trent Jakacki and Josh Martin led the backcourt with a combined 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Wabash's Josh Whack led his team with 26 points on 9-14 shooting from the field in the NCAC opener for both teams.

For Yang, not only did the performance mark his new career-high for points in a single game, but it also was his second career 20-point game (21 points vs Pitt Bradford on Nov. 9, 2024). Jakacki also reached 1,000 points in the game, making him the 30th player in program history to reach that mark.

The Little Giants were coming off a 20-win season in 2023-24, which included an NCAC regular-season title, NCAC tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance. With multiple student-athletes returning from that team, Hiram faced a tough task in getting the win.

Wabash grabbed the first double-digit lead of the contest thanks to a 7-0 run beginning at the 12:41 mark in the opening half. Yang sunk his second 3-pointer of the season to halt the rally, but Wabash would lead by two possessions for the remainder of the half, taking a 33-27 lead into the intermission.

Yang then emerged in the second half, scoring 18 of his 27 points during that span. The senior from Hong Kong scored 9 of the team's first 11 points in the half, finding his way in the painted area for high-percentage looks and multiple three-point play opportunities.

The firepower of Wabash proved to be the difference; senior Vinny Bucilla finished the game with 17 points and a game-high five steals, helping fuel the team's 50 total points in the paint and 22 points off turnovers. The Little Giants led by as many as 21 points before Hiram went on a late run to make it a 13-point margin before the final buzzer sounded.

Hiram will get another crack at NCAC competition on Wednesday, when it hosts Wooster at 7 p.m. inside Price Gymnasium in Hiram, Ohio.