Aaron Evans led Wawasee with 12 points Tuesday night. (File photo by Mike Deak)

SYRACUSE – Free throws were a difference maker Tuesday night. DeKalb made 10 more chances than Wawasee took in what amounted to a 10-point win, 64-54, in boys basketball.

The Warriors kept pace with the Barons on the floor, both draining four three-pointers in the opening half, but the Barons were 10-12 from the free throw line while Wawasee didn’t attempt a free throw in the first 16 minutes. In all, DeKalb was 21-25 from the line in the game while Wawasee was 5-5. The Warriors were called for 19 fouls in the game, the Barons just 12 fouls.

A 16-9 DeKalb lead after one quarter turned into a 12-point lead, 32-20, at the half, forcing Wawasee into a chase mode it’s not comfortable doing.

Wawasee had 11 players score, but only one, Aaron Evans, hit double figures with 12 points. Trevon Coleman had eight points and four rebounds.

DeKalb had its big guns firing, with Logan Kruse and Isaac Brown combining for most of its scoring. Kruse scored 22 points and was 8-9 from the line while Brown had 20 points and was 5-6 from the stripe. The two also had 11 rebounds and six steals in the contest.

Wawasee led the JV game, 32-22, at the half, but were outscored 23-12 in the final two quarters to lose by one, 45-44.

Wawasee (3-6) will jump back into Northern Lakes Conference play Friday as it will host NorthWood. Both the Warriors and Panthers are 1-0 in NLC play, the Panthers coming into Syracuse with a 7-2 record.