GALESBURG, Ill. - Ripon's men's basketball team defeated Knox 85-66 Saturday afternoon, breaking a program record with their 15th conference victory of the season. The win also ensures the Red Hawks of their first 18-win season in 12 years.

Ripon (18-5, 15-3 MWC) controlled the game for much of the day, shooting 57 percent (34-60) from the field, including 50 percent (8-16) from 3-point range. That shooting percentage was bolstered by the team's 70 percent (21-30) shooting during the second half.

Knox (2-21, 2-16 MWC) scored the game's first basket, but Ripon quickly tied the game on a basket by Mason Stangl, before taking the lead on another Stangl basket. Ripon would never trail again, leading for the final 37 minutes of the game. The Red Hawks scored 13 of the game's first 15 points and led by as many as 12 points in the opening half. Knox would eventually cut that lead to a single point with under four minutes to play before halftime, but Ripon used a 9-2 run to take an eight-point lead into intermission.

The Red Hawks led by double digits for the majority of the second half with Knox only pulling within seven before Ripon extended the lead again and coasted to victory.

Ripon featured a balanced offensive attack as 14 different players scored at least two points. They were led by Cal Schultz's 15 points off the bench, as he made 6-of-7 shots, while pulling down six rebounds. Ty Sabin added 13 points and a career-high eight assists, while Stangl made all six of his shots, scoring 12 points in just 17 minutes. Brendan McCoy also scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

Knox was led by Jonathan Damota's double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Deandre Weathersby added 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

Ripon will now get ready for next weekend's Midwest Conference Tournament where they will play Cornell College in Friday's first semi-final game at 5 p.m. at the Kress Center in Green Bay, Wis. That game can be seen live at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ripon/.