Box Score

RIPON, Wis. - Playing in front of their home crowd, which included past Ripon greats on what was their annual Alumni Day, the Ripon men's basketball team put on a show, leading for all but about one minute Saturday, en route to a 91-70 victory over Monmouth College. After shooting 44 percent (14-32) from the field in the first half, the Red Hawks turned up the heat in the second, converting a scintilating 69 percent (22-32) of thier shots, including 50 percent (7-14) of their 3-pointers.

The first half was fairly close, with Monmouth's only lead coming with just over three minutes off the clock. Kyle Loughrin answered with a jumper on the ensuing possession, putting Ripon (12-7, 9-5 MWC) in the lead for good. Loughrin would hit another shot later in the half to put the Red Hawks up by 11, but Monmouth (5-15, 4-11 MWC) was able to cut that to two with just over one minute remaining. A Brad Brooks basket on the ensuing possession gave Ripon a 33-29 lead at the half.

Ripon began the second half on a 15-8 run to take an 11 point advantage and would later go up by 23 when Ty Sabin connected on back-to-back 3-pointers, as he scored eight points in a matter of one and a half minutes. Monmouth would cut the lead to 16 later in the half, but that's as close as it would get the rest of the way.

Sabin led the way with a game-high 27 points for the Red Hawks, with 18 of those coming in the second half. Loughrin added 12 points in the second period, as he finished with 19 and a career-high eight rebounds. Eleven different Red Hawks scored at least one point on the night, as all 14 active players saw playing time.

Monmouth was led by 14 points and four assists from Greg McClain, while Cole Jackson and Wes DeClercq scored 12 and 10, respectively. The Fighting Scots were outscored in the paint, 42-26.

The win, coupled with Illinois College's loss to Lawrence, keeps Ripon in the fourth spot in the MWC standings, two full games ahead of IC with four to play. Ripon will continue their quest for an MWC Tournament spot on Tuesday when they'll travel to Lake Forest. That game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in Lake Forest, Ill. and can be seen live on http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/ripon.portal#.