RIPON, Wis. -- The Ripon College men's basketball team delivered a gritty, back-and-forth performance on Alumni Day but ultimately came up just short in an 81-77 loss to Knox College Saturday afternoon at Weiske Gymnasium.
The Red Hawks and Prairie Fire traded momentum throughout the contest, combining for 12 ties and 18 lead changes. Ripon trailed by just two points at halftime, 40-38, after staying within striking distance for the entire opening period. Strong ball movement and timely shooting kept the Red Hawks locked in as the game remained tight heading into the locker room.
Ripon continued to battle in the second half, briefly regaining the lead multiple times and answering nearly every Knox run. Midway through the period, the Red Hawks used a stretch of efficient scoring and defensive stops to surge ahead and energize the home crowd. Ripon remained within one possession down the stretch, but Knox capitalized at the free-throw line in the closing seconds to secure the four-point decision.
Senior Kolby Williams (New Orleans, La., Heights HS) paced the Red Hawks with 18 points and seven rebounds, providing a steady presence inside. Senior CJ Brown (Minneapolis, Minn., Minneapolis North Area HS) followed with 15 points, while sophomore Sam Leoni (Hartland, Wis., Arrowhead HS) added 13 points and six assists to help keep the offense moving. Ripon also received balanced contributions from the bench, with junior Jack Field (Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Marian University), freshman Landon Lee (Marshfield, Wis., Marshfield HS), and sophomore Anton Kilde (Portage, Wis., Portage HS) each scoring six points.
The Red Hawks were effective from beyond the arc, knocking down 12 three-pointers and finishing the afternoon shooting 48.0 percent from long range. Ripon also showed resilience on both ends of the floor, staying composed through a tightly contested game that was not decided until the final moments.
Ripon returns to Midwest Conference play on Tuesday, Jan 27, when the Red Hawks travel to Lake Forest for a 5:30pm road matchup.
