LAKE FOREST, Illinois – A double-digit, second half deficit was no match for the Ripon men's basketball program as the Red Hawks went on separate 15 and 13 point runs in the final stanza to blow out Lake Forest 80-62 on Tuesday night inside the Sports & Recreation Center.

After a low-scoring first half, Ripon (4-11, 2-4 MWC) shot 58.8% (20-of-34) from the field in the second frame – and 84.6% (11-of-13) from the free throw line – to flip a 10-point deficit into an 18-point lead while outscoring Lake Forest (3-12, 1-5) by 25 points in the final 20 minutes.

STANDOUT HAWKS

• Senior guard Cade Tackmier turned in a game-high 18 points, just missing a double-double with 9 rebounds. He also dished out 2 assists.
• Senior guard Dominic Galati netted 13 points (3-of-6 from three-point range) while grabbing 3 boards and handing out 3 assists.
• Sophomore forward Kolby Williams scored all 16 of his points in the second half, adding 7 rebounds (4 offensive) and 2 blocks.
• Senior guard Clark Cunningham scored 9 points off the bench with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

PLAY-BY-PLAY
The teams traded baskets in the early going with the largest lead on both sides being just five halfway through the period. Trailing by seven, Ripon snapped nearly a three-minute scoreless drought after Jayden Fitch hit a hook shot with 8:47 remaining in the half. Lake Forest grew its lead to double digits after holding the Red Hawks scoreless for almost four minutes deep into the half. However, Ripon responded with six consecutive points and the defense did its part to hold Lake Forest without a basket for almost five minutes. Lake Forest led by seven at intermission (31-24) as Ripon shot just 34.5% from the field in the first 20 minutes, missing eight of its last nine three pointers.

Ripon came out strong in the second half, turning a 10-point deficit into a lead after a 15-0 run in the early part of the second half – holding Lake Forest without a basket from the 17:46 mark until the time showed 12:45. The Foresters returned the favor, however, retaking the lead on the back of multiple three-pointers. Ripon pulled in front for good with 10:32 left in the game and grew its lead to 15 (63-48) with 5:48 to go after a 13-0 run spanning over three minutes. From that point on, 13 was the closest the Foresters could get as Ripon won in Lake Forest for the sixth consecutive meeting.

KEY STATS

• Overall, Ripon shot 47.6% (30-of-63) from the field and held Lake Forest to 31.0% from the floor in the second half (9-of-29).
• For the second consecutive game, Ripon set a season-low in turnovers (7) and forced 11 Forester turnovers.
• Ripon allowed fewer than 30 rebounds for the first time this season, conceding only 26 while the Red Hawks grabbed 36 themselves.
• Ripon got 27 points from its bench while the Foresters only received 8.
• Alex Forowycz had a team-high 17 points for Lake Forest.

UP NEXT
Ripon starts a two-game homestand with a test against Monmouth on Saturday (January 13) at 1 p.m.

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