BELOIT, Wis. - Ripon converted just three of their first nine shots, while Beloit sank 10 consecutive shots during the first eight minutes of Tuesday night's game, helping the Buccaneers stake claim to an early 15-point lead. On this night though, it wasn't a matter of how it started, but how it finished - and the Red Hawks stormed back to lead by four at halftime, en route to a 76-68 victory. The win helps Ripon keep pace with the top half of the Midwest Conference, remaining in a three-way tie for second.

Despite Ripon's slow start, they still shot 56 percent (14-25) in the first half, making 11 of their final 16 shots in the period. That included converting five of their six 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes. Trailing 22-7 in the early going, the Red Hawks (5-2, 3-1 MWC) scored 12 consecutive points on four 3-pointers from four different players to get back into the game, eventually leading by as many as five.

Ripon held their lead for the first five and a half minutes of the second half, before a Steve McAfee 3-pointer gave Beloit (2-6, 1-3 MWC) the lead again. That lead would be short-lived, as Hayden Hoerdemann gave the Red Hawks the lead for good with one of his three 3-pointers on the night. Ripon would take a 10-point lead with just over four minutes remaining on a layup by Kyle Loughrin, before Beloit reeled off seven consecutive points to cut that lead to three with under one minute remaining. Ripon then showed their mental toughness, converting all five of their free throws in the final minute.

Ty Sabin, who entered the game as Division-III's fourth-highest scorer, led the Red Hawks with 26 points. Loughrin added 13 points, while Hoerdemann scored a career-high 11 on 4-of-5 shooting.

Beloit was led by McAfee's 22 points, eight rebounds, and four steals. Alex Hade and Sean Fancsali each scored 12 points, while Rudy Bentley scored 10.

The Red Hawks will try for their third consecutive win on Saturday when they'll host Illinois College at 3 p.m. in Ripon. During that game, all fans are asked to bring a Holiday gift for donation to the Milwaukee Children's Hospital.