RIPON, Wisconsin – The Ripon men's basketball program went toe-to-toe with one of the best programs in the country for the full 40 minutes on Tuesday night, but UW-Oshkosh pulled away late for a 91-83 victory over the Red Hawks inside Weiske Gymnasium.
 
Dominic Galati eclipsed his previous career-high of 17 points in the first half alone on Tuesday night, scoring 19 in the opening 20 minutes against a UW-Oshkosh (6-1) squad that shot 52.7% from the field and made 12 three-pointers throughout the night.
 
STANDOUT HAWKS

• Senior guard Dominic Galati ended the evening with a career-high 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting. He made all five of his three-point attempts and grabbed two rebounds.
• Junior forward Kolby Williams scored 16 points to go along with three rebounds and two blocks.
• Senior guard/forward Luke Meinholz recorded 15 points – all 15 in the first half – and snared seven rebounds.
• Senior guard Cade Tackmier contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

PLAY-BY-PLAY
Ripon (3-4) started strong, scoring the first five points of the game until Joey LaChapell scored Oshkosh's first 10 points as the Titans built a 14-7 advantage. The Red Hawks would rally, and eight consecutive points put the hosts up 18-15. UWO led by as many as seven in the half, pulling in front 34-27 with six minutes left in the period. That lead was equaled multiple times moments later, but Galati ended the half by scoring Ripon's last eight points as the Red Hawks trailed just 46-45 at the break.
 
Leading 48-46, the Titans scored nine consecutive points to build their biggest lead of the game, taking an 11-point advantage less than five minutes into the half. Ripon would not back down, and a layup by Williams brought Ripon within three at 68-65. However, UWO countered with seven consecutive points to make it a double-digit margin. A triple by Williams shrunk Oshkosh's lead to 86-83 with 19 seconds to play, but the visitors scored the last five points of the game at the charity stripe to secure the victory.
 
KEY STATS

• Ripon shot 51.6% from the field (33-of-64) and was an incredible 18-of-29 in the first half (62.1%).
• Each team made 12 threes, with UWO attempting 27 and Ripon taking 23.
• UW-Oshkosh made 21 free throws (21-of-35) while Ripon only attempted 12 and made five.
• The Titans had statistical advantages in points off turnovers (28-14) and bench points (31-7).
• Michael Metcalf-Grassman led all scorers with 28 points and nine rebounds.

UP NEXT
Ripon opens Midwest Conference play on Saturday, December 7 as the Red Hawks face defending league champion Illinois College on the road at 3 p.m.
 
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