RIPON, Wis. -- Ripon College men's basketball continued its long-running dominance over Lawrence University on Tuesday night, earning an 83-67 win inside Weiske Gymnasium and extending their streak to 25 consecutive victories over the Vikings.
The Red Hawks set the tone early and never looked back, using a balanced offensive attack and a strong second half to pull away. After a tightly contested opening 20 minutes that saw Ripon take a slim 30-29 lead into halftime, the Red Hawks erupted after the break. Ripon shot an impressive 64.3 percent from the field in the second half, scoring 53 points and steadily building separation.
Junior Seth Bunders (Wauzeka, Wis., Wauzeka-Steuben HS) led all scorers with 19 points while also dishing out nine assists, controlling the tempo and creating opportunities throughout the night. Junior Marshawn Robinson (Milwaukee, Wis., Waukesha South HS) followed closely with 18 points and a team-high eight rebounds, going 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. Sophomore Michael Asman (Kimberly, Wis., Kimberly HS) added 13 points, including a pair of key three-pointers, while senior CJ Brown (Minneapolis, Minn., Minneapolis North Area HS) chipped in 12 points and provided energy on both ends of the floor.
Ripon's efficiency was a major difference in the game. The Red Hawks finished the night shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three-point range, compared to Lawrence's 44.6 percent overall. Ripon also capitalized at the free-throw line, converting 12 of 14 attempts, and held a 29-24 rebounding edge.
Defensively, Ripon forced eight turnovers and turned them into 17 points, while also limiting Lawrence's second-chance opportunities. A series of timely stops midway through the second half helped spark a decisive run that pushed the lead into double digits and put the game out of reach.
The win marked Ripon's third conference victory of the season and continued a historic trend against a familiar Midwest Conference rival. With momentum on their side, the Red Hawks will look to build on the performance when they return to action on Saturday, Jan 17, traveling to Grinnell College for a 1:00pm tipoff.
