RIPON, Wis. - For the second consecutive game, Ripon's men's basketball team lost by less than three points, falling to Monmouth 58-57 on Saturday in what was the conference-opening game for both teams. The Red Hawks shot 33 percent (17-51) from the field, and were outscored in the paint by a 26-16 margin.

Monmouth (4-2, 1-0 MWC) took command of the game early, going up 19-7 mid-way through the first half, as Will Jones scored 10 points in the first five minutes. Ripon (2-2, 0-1 MWC) then used a 14-5 run to get back into the game, cutting the lead to three on a Trent Jones 3-pointer with seven minutes left in the half. Tyler Semenas tied the score at 30 for the Red Hawks with a steal and a thundering dunk, but Stephon Bobbitt hit a jumper at the halftime buzzer to give Monmouth a two-point lead at the break.

Isaac Masters put Ripon in front with a 3-pointer on the opening possession of the second half, which would feature four ties and six lead changes. A Seth Kostroski 3-pointer put Ripon up by eight mid-way through the period, but just when it looked like the Red Hawks would pull away, Monmouth went on a 13-5 run to tie the game at 53 with five and a half minutes remaining. Masters put Ripon in front again on a jumper with just under two minutes to play, but that would be the final points for the Red Hawks. A free throw put Monmouth in front with seven seconds to play, and a last second heave fell short for Ripon.

Semenas led Ripon with 23 points, five rebounds, and four steals, while Masters scored 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Kostroski made all three of his 3-pointers to tie a career-high with nine points, helping the Red Hawks shoot 50 percent (6-12) from behind the arc.

Monmouth was led by a pair of players with double-doubles. Jones finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, to go along with three assists, four blocks, and four steals, while Justin Aluya scored a team-high 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds (four offensive).

The Red Hawks will try to bounce back on Saturday, as they'll host Cornell College. That game will begin at 1 p.m. in Weiske Gymnasium, and can be seen live at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ripon/.