GRINNELL, Iowa - Despite shooting 61 percent (33-54) from the field, the Ripon College men's basketball team couldn't get past Grinnell Saturday afternoon, losing to the Pioneers 112-96. The Red Hawks' excellent shooting was negated by the hot shooting Pioneers, which converted 45 percent (37-82) of their shots, including 41 percent (24-58) from 3-point range. Ripon also committed a season-worst 30 turnovers, which Grinnell converted into 41 points.

The lead changed hands a couple times in the opening minutes, before Ripon (9-4, 6-2 MWC) took control with a 24-4 run to take a 16 point lead with just under nine minutes left in the period. That lead would be cut to five later in the half, but Ripon finished the first 20 minutes strong to go into halftime sporting a 52-43 advantage.

Down by nine, Grinnell (6-6, 4-3 MWC) came out firing in the second half, starting the period on a 13-3 run to take the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the game. After a Nathan Runde layup briefly gave Ripon the lead back, Grinnell's Julian Marx connected on a 3-pointer to give the Pioneers the lead on what was the beginning of a 14-4 run that put them up by 11. Ripon answered with a 21-8 run of their own, grabbing the lead with just under seven minutes remaining on a layup by Kyle Loughrin. That would be short-lived however, as Grinnell scored on its next two possessions to take a lead that they would never relinquish.

Ty Sabin led the Red Hawks with 25 points, making 7-of-10 from the field and sinking all 11 of his free throws, while adding six rebounds and five assists. Loughrin finished with 22 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while Runde recorded career-highs of 18 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench. Justin Leistikow recorded his third career double-double, scoring 12 points, to go along with 11 rebounds.

Grinnell's balanced scoring attack was led by Jack Taylor's 18 points. Tague Zachary added 16 points, while Kyle Parker and Matt Jasaitis scored 15 apiece. Bayer chipped in with 13 points, four assists, and a game-high five steals.

The loss drops Ripon into third place in the MWC standings, just one-half games behind Monmouth. The Red Hawks will try to get back on the winning track Tuesday when they'll host Lake Forest College. That game will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Ripon and can be seen live at,http://portal.stretchinternet.com/ripon/.