Greencastle, Ind.- The DePauw University men's basketball team beat the Wabash Little Giants 58-53, in front of a packed arena. 

The atmosphere of Neal Fieldhouse was electric with both DePauw and Wabash fans filling the stands as the two rival schools went head to head for the first time this season.

The Little Giants struck first taking an 0-2 lead, and holding the Tigers to zero for the first three minutes of the half. 

Nick Felke would eventually tie the game at two after securing a bad pass by Wabash'sWabash's Jack Davidson and finishing a fast-break layup on the other end. 

That basket would jumpstart the Tigers offense and start a 12 point run to take the lead. Leading the charge in the first half senior guard Luke Steinhart would go 3-5 behind the arc and finish the half with ten points, three rebounds and no turnovers.

With four lead changes and three ties in the first half, the two teams traded baskets with neither side able to pull away.

Down 24-27 at the half, the Tigers took no time to tie the game, thanks to a deep three by Steinhart.

Much like the first half, the Little Giants had an answer for every one of DePauw's baskets. However, the Tigers' ability to attack the basket and get to the line in both the first and second half led to foul trouble for Wabash, allowing DePauw to slow down the game and set up its offense. 

Though the Little Giants had to navigate the second half with three players with four fouls, starting guard for Wabash, Tyler Watson still managed to put up 12 points and force four steals throughout the game.

Once again, the Tigers were going back and forth with the Little Giants; however, with four minutes left in regulation, Aaron Shank extended DePauw's lead to two possessions not once but twice, with back-to-back threes.

The Tigers would finish the matchup shooting 40% from the field and had just two players end the game in double digits. Those numbers, however, don't show the tenacity DePauw brought onto the court throughout the totality of the game.

That tenacity was seen in the Tigers 15 total assists and ten steals, which kept DePauw on top for the majority of the highly contested game, and ultimately gave them the edge at the end of the night. 

The Tigers improve to 8-8 overall and 5-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. DePauw basketball travel to Kenyon College on Saturday, Jan. 25, in a doubleheader against the Ladies and the Lords. The men's basketball game will follow the women's game, with a tip-off at 3 p.m.

This Freaky Fast post game report is sponsored by Jimmy John's in Greencastle, Indiana.