BELOIT, Wisconsin – The Ripon men's basketball program used a strong first half and held on down the stretch to push past Beloit 72-60 on Wednesday night inside Flood Arena.
 
Facing a Beloit (6-14, 2-10 MWC) team that has now lost eight consecutive games, Ripon (9-11, 6-5 MWC) started the evening on an 18-6 run. The Red Hawks led by as many as 19 in the first half, took a 14-point halftime advantage, thwarted a furious second-half Beloit charge and pulled a half game back of Illinois College for the fourth and final spot in the upcoming Midwest Conference Tournament.
 
STANDOUT HAWKS

• Senior guard Cade Tackmier led Ripon with 14 points, adding four rebounds and four assists.
• Senior guard/forward Luke Meinholz contributed 13 points, six rebounds and two steals.
• Junior guard CJ Brown scored 11 points with three rebounds off the bench.
• Senior guard Dominic Galati added 10 points.
• Sophomore guard Seth Bunders tallied nine points, four rebounds and three assists off the bench.
• Junior forward Kolby Williams chipped in eight points and six rebounds, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor.

PLAY-BY-PLAY
Ripon scored the first five points of the game as Beloit was held scoreless for over four minutes. The lead grew to 10-2 following a jumper by Meinholz, and the Ripon defense allowed just four points in the first seven minutes of the game. Five consecutive points put the Red Hawks up 18-6, and an 8-0 spurt spanning three and a half minutes gave Ripon an impressive 30-12 cushion. Despite a two and a half minute scoring drought, Ripon's lead was at least 14 for the final seven minutes of the half. Beloit ended the frame on a 5-0 run and the Red Hawks took a 37-23 advantage into the break.
 
Beloit continued to chip away at its deficit, drawing within 42-37 after a 14-5 run to start the second half. However, Ripon went on a 9-0 spurt from there to pull in front 51-37 with 11 minutes left in the game. Moments later, three consecutive triples by Brian Rusch brought the Bucs within four at 52-48, but Ripon again had an answer. The Red Hawks followed with seven consecutive points to grab a 59-48 advantage and under six minutes left on the clock. From there, Beloit would get no closer than nine as Ripon hung on and finished strong for the important road win.
 
KEY STATS

• Ripon shot 45.6% from the field (26-of-57) and held Beloit to just 17 made field goals (17-of-50, 34.0%).
• The Red Hawks committed just 10 turnovers and scored 22 points in the paint.
• Ripon never trailed in the game and led for 38 minutes.
• Brian Rusch led all scorers with 17 points for Beloit.

UP NEXT
Ripon ends its three-game road trip at Knox on Saturday (February 8) with a 3 p.m. tipoff.
 
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