Box Score RIPON, Wis. - Despite shooting 67 percent (41-61) from the field Saturday night, including 40 percent (6-15) from 3-point range, Ripon's men's basketball team dropped their second consecutive game, falling to Grinnell College by a score of 117-108. The Pioneers countered Ripon's hot shooting by making 50 percent (38-76) of their shots, including 43 percent (20-47) of their 3-pointers. Grinnell also forced 17 Ripon turnovers, while committing just six miscues.

In a battle of the NCAA's top two scorers (Grinnell's Jack Taylor and Ripon's Ty Sabin), Taylor struck first with a 3-pointer from the corner just 15 seconds into the contest. Sabin would connect on a 3-pointer of his own just one minute later, as the two didn't disappoint the many fans in attendance. Ripon took control of the game early, grabbing an eight-point lead on a 3-pointer by Kyle Loughrin with 13 minutes to play in the half. The Red Hawks would lead for the remainder of the half, going up by as many as 10, but leading by just four heading into the locker room due to a basket by Grinnell's Braedon Bayer in the final seconds.

That lead evaporated in the opening minutes of the second half, as Julian Marx and Tague Zachary connected on back-to-back 3-pointers. Sabin answered with a 3-pointer of his own to put Ripon back in front. Ripon would lead for the next few minutes until a 3-pointer by Jacob Ekstrand gave Grinnell the lead for good. The Pioneers led by as many as 11 in the final four minutes, but Ripon was able to cut that lead to four on a three point play by Sabin with just under one and a half minutes to play. That would be as close as they would get, as Grinnell sealed the game by connecting on 10 of their final 12 free throws.

Sabin led Ripon (11-7, 8-5 MWC) with 33 points on 13-of-19 shooting, to go along with six rebounds and four assists. That gives him 523 points this season, which is 12th on Ripon's single season list, and leaves him just seven points shy of 1,000 for his career. Loughrin added 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, to go along with four rebounds and a career-high seven assists. Koy Brecklin also chipped in with a career-high 15 points off the bench, while Brendan McCoy scored 11.

Grinnell (10-8, 8-5 MWC) was led by 31 points from Luke Yeager, who made all four of his 3-pointers. Marx added 22 points, converting five of his 10 3-pointers, while Taylor finished with 20 points, giving him 523 points through 18 games, which puts him in a tie for the NCAA scoring lead with Sabin at 29.1 points per game. Ekstrand added 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting from long range.

Ripon will try to get back on the winning track Wednesday when they'll travel to Carroll University. That game will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Waukesha and can be seen live at,http://portal.stretchinternet.com/ripon/.,