RIPON, Wis. -- The Ripon College men's basketball team battled throughout but came up just short in a 74-69 loss to Lake Forest College on Friday afternoon at Weiske Gymnasium.

The Red Hawks kept the game close from start to finish, with the contest featuring four ties and eight lead changes. Lake Forest held a slim 34-32 advantage at halftime, setting the stage for a tightly contested second half that went down to the final seconds.

Ripon found its rhythm early in the second half and briefly took control, opening with strong interior play and perimeter shooting to grab a 51-44 lead with just over 11 minutes remaining. The Red Hawks continued to answer every Lake Forest run, using balanced scoring and defensive stops to maintain a narrow edge as the clock wound down.

In the final five minutes, the contest remained tightly contested as both teams traded baskets and momentum. Ripon continued to battle on both ends of the floor and cut the deficit to one in the closing seconds, keeping the outcome in doubt until the final moments. Lake Forest, however, converted key free throws down the stretch to pull away and secure the 74-69 victory.

Junior Seth Bunders (Wauzeka, Wis., Wauzeka-Steuben HS) led the Red Hawks with 18 points, adding four steals and two blocks. Junior Marshawn Robinson (Milwaukee, Wis., Waukesha South HS) also scored 18 points off the bench, while senior Kolby Williams (New Orleans, La., Heights HS) pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds to go along with eight points. Ripon shot 42.2 percent from the field and a solid 36.0 percent from three-point range, while going a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.

Ripon moves to 2-10 overall and 2-2 in Midwest Conference play. The Red Hawks will look to bounce back after the holidays. Their next matchup is set for Tuesday, Dec 30, at 7pm at Elmhurst University.