RIPON, Wisconsin – In the second game this week that came down to the final possession, the Ripon men's basketball program couldn't tie Monmouth late and fell 78-73 to the Scots on Saturday afternoon inside Weiske Gymnasium.
 
After whittling a seven-point deficit with under five minutes to play down to two with 31 seconds remaining, Ripon (11-12, 8-6 MWC) had the ball down three with under 20 seconds to go. However, Monmouth (18-5, 12-2 MWC) turned the Red Hawks over, sealing the game and at least a share of the Midwest Conference championship at the free throw line.
 
STANDOUT HAWKS

• Senior forward Cameron Ford had the best offensive game of his career, setting career-highs in points (18) and rebounds (11) while going a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. He also recorded two steals.
• Senior guard Cade Tackmier added 17 points, five rebounds and four assists.
• Senior guard/forward Luke Meinholz contributed 10 points and four steals, breaking his own single-season steals record in the process.

PLAY-BY-PLAY
The sides were even early, though a 7-0 Ripon run put the hosts up 9-3. Ripon's lead eventually grew to eight (23-15) following a Jake Thomsen triple with 11:46 left in the half. However, the Scots tied the game at 27 following a 12-4 spurt spanning seven minutes. Monmouth's biggest lead of the frame was three on multiple occasions, but the Red Hawks scored six of the last 10 points in the half to trail 38-37 at the break.
 
Ripon pulled in front 43-40 on back to back layups by Kolby Williams and Ford, but Monmouth responded with the next six points. From there, the biggest lead on either side was four until there were less than five minutes remaining as the teams went back and forth. With Ripon up 55-53 and 12 minutes to go, a 15-6 run by the visitors gave Monmouth its biggest lead of the game, 68-61. However, Ripon scored the next five points and would not go away. After Monmouth went in front 73-66 with 2:26 to go, Ford, Tackmier and Dominic Galati spearheaded a 7-2 spurt that brought Ripon within two at 75-73. After Monmouth split a pair of free throws, Ripon had a chance to tie, though Brennen McNally ripped the ball away from Williams and made the game-clinching free throws on the other end.
 
KEY STATS

• Monmouth was 52.0% from the field (26-of-50) while Ripon shot 27-of-56 (48.2%).
• The difference in the game came from beyond the arc, where Monmouth made 10 threes and Ripon shot 4-of-13 from deep.
• Ripon was a perfect 15-of-15 from the charity stripe, while Monmouth was 16-of-20 in free throws.
• The Red Hawks had a 31-24 rebounding advantage and a 36-32 edge in paint points.
• Kyle Taylor led all scorers with 24 points for Monmouth.

UP NEXT
Ripon visits Lake Forest at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19.
 
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