RIPON, Wis. - In a game that featured nine ties and 10 lead changes, St. Norbert edged Ripon's men's basketball team Saturday afternoon by a score of 70-69. The Green Knights also scored 18 points off turnovers, and their bench outscored Ripon's reserves 28-5.

St. Norbert (3-2, 2-0 MWC) got out to an early 12-4 lead, before Ripon (5-2, 1-1 MWC) scored 14 consecutive points to take a six-point advantage of a layup by Kyle Rutkowski with eight and a half minutes left in the half. With the score tied at 22 in the final minutes of the period, Ripon went on an 8-2 run, but that lead was cut in half to three at halftime.

Ripon continued to lead in the second halfuntil the 15 minute mark when St. Norbert tied the score at 38 on a jumper by Connor Curtis. Joe Ciriacks gave SNC the lead with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession.  The Green Knights led by eight mid-way through the second half, but that lead vanished in the next few minutes, as Jaylen Mahone tied the score at 55. Tied at 67 in the final two minutes, the two teams traded jumpers, followed by a Nolan Beirne free throw in the final minute that proved to be the difference. Ripon received a good look at the basket on a potential game-winning shot, but it was off the mark.

Ryan Steffes led Ripon with 22 points on 5-of-11 shooting from 3-point range. Jones finished with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three blocked shots, while Kyle Rutkowski chipped in with eight points, 13 rebounds, and four assists.

Ciriacks led all scorers with 24 points on 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Jared Murphy added 17 points off the bench, making all five of his 3-point attempts.

Ripon will be in action again on December 11 at 7 p.m. when they'll travel to UW-La Crosse.