LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Entering this weekend, Ripon hadn't lost since the third day of the new year, winning eight consecutive games since then. That streak came to an end Saturday afternoon at the hands of Lake Forest College, which defeated the Red Hawks 69-64 in a seesaw battle. Long-range shooting played a key role, as Ripon converted just 29 percent (4-14) of their 3-pointers, while Lake Forest converted 47 percent (8-17) of their 3-point shots, including one to take the lead for good with 30 seconds remaining.

Neither team led by more than three points in the first 10 minutes until Trent Jones put Ripon up by five on a basket with 10 minutes left in the half. Lake Forest answered with a 17-6 run to take a six-point lead with two minutes to play in the period. An Isaac Masters 3-pointer cut that lead in half, but Lake Forest scored the final two baskets of the half to take a seven-point lead into halftime.

Lake Forest added to their lead in the early minutes of the second half, taking a 10-point lead on a 3-pointer by Sam Husting. Ripon then scored eight consecutive points, including six by Cal Schultz, to get back in the game. The Red Hawks would claw back to tie the game at 44 on a Masters jumper with 13 and a half minutes remaining and the lead would change hands several times the rest of the game, including with 47 seconds remaining when Cal Schultz converted a three-point lead to give Ripon a two point advantage. On the ensuing possession, Lake Forest grabbed the lead back on a 3-pointer by Eric Porter, and the Foresters would ice the game by making all four of their free throws in the final 13 seconds.

Ripon (13-6, 10-4 MWC) was led by Schultz's 16 points, while Masters finished with 15, including three 3-pointers. Tyler Semenas added 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double in a Red Hawks uniform. Jones also chipped in with 10 points and six boards.

Porter led Lake Forest (15-6, 11-3 MWC) with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Husting also made a trio of 3-pointers, finishing with 13 points.

With the loss, Ripon is now in a third-place tie with St. Norbert in the MWC standings, just one game behind both Monmouth and Lake Forest. The Red Hawks will be in action again Wednesday at Lawrence University. That game will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Appleton, Wis. and can be seen live at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ripon/.