GRINNELL, Ia. -- The Ripon men's basketball team (3-14, 3-5 MWC) suffered a high-pace loss to the Grinnell College Pioneers (11-3, 6-1 MWC) this Saturday, Jan 17. Freshman guard Joey Daun (Neenah, Wis., Neenah HS) would lead the Red Hawks in scoring, notching 14 points off the bench.

Play opened typical of a Grinnell game, with the Red Hawks facing a quick barrage of three pointers and transition attempts. After six minutes of play, Ripon found itself down 15 points following another Grinnell fast break three, until a cold stretch struck both teams around the mid point of the half. Deep balls from guard Keenan Rahn (Omro, Wis., Omro HS) and forward Michael Asman (Kimberly, Wis., Kimberly HS) put the Red Hawks within single digits of the Pioneers, with the rest of the opening twenty minutes following a similar ebb and flow, with halftime finally hitting as the guests found themselves down 12. The Red Hawks would maintain 35% shooting from three for the half, matching the Pioneers in efficiency on deep shots. 

Coming out of halftime firing, Grinnell would extend their lead to 19 after four minutes of play, as the Red Hawks looked to stay in the game with transition efficiency. Holding on for the first half of the second, Ripon struggled against Grinnell's 62% shooting from the field across the second half, including 40% shooting from three. Comeback attempts were stifled as the Red Hawks faced significant difficulties with turnovers and rebounds, giving up the ball 10 more times than their opponent while securing 16 fewer boards. The Pioneers would crash the offensive glass with specific intensity, with the Red Hawks giving up 18 offensive rebounds. Shooting just 17% on threes in the second half, the final horn sounded on a 71-109 Ripon loss. 

The Red Hawks get a short break, returning to action next weekend, Jan 24, at home for an Alumni Day matchup against Knox College. The Praire Fire enter the contest 6-10 at the time of writing and 2-5 in the MWC, coming off a 87-105 loss to Lake Forest.