RIPON, Wis. -- The Ripon College men's basketball team defended its home floor Saturday afternoon, earning a 67-62 victory inside Weiske Gymnasium behind a balanced scoring effort and a clutch performance at the free-throw line.

Ripon set the tone early, shooting an even 50 percent from the field in the first half while building a 33-29 advantage at the break. Junior Seth Bunders (Wauzeka, Wis., Wauzeka-Steuben HS) sparked the offense from the opening minutes, attacking the basket and creating scoring opportunities both in transition and the half court. The Red Hawks also controlled the glass early, limiting second-chance opportunities and allowing their offense to play with pace.

The contest remained tight throughout the second half, but Ripon showed poise when it mattered most. Despite a cold stretch from the floor after halftime, the Red Hawks compensated with discipline and efficiency at the charity stripe, converting 18 of 19 free throws in the final 20 minutes to keep their lead intact.

Bunders led all scorers with 21 points, finishing a perfect 7-for-7 at the free-throw line while adding three steals on the defensive end. Senior CJ Brown (Minneapolis, Minn., Minneapolis North Area HS) followed with 14 points, also excelling at the line by knocking down seven of eight attempts. Brown's ability to get downhill and draw contact proved critical during Ripon's late-game surge.

Senior Kolby Williams (New Orleans, La., Heights HS) delivered a strong all-around performance, tallying eight points and a team-high nine rebounds to anchor Ripon's interior presence. Sophomore Sam Leoni (Hartland, Wis., Arrowhead HS) chipped in eight points, while junior Marshawn Robinson (Milwaukee, Wis., Waukesha South HS) added seven points and five rebounds, providing physicality inside during key stretches.

Off the bench, junior Jack Field (Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Marian University) gave the Red Hawks an important lift with seven points in 11 minutes, scoring efficiently around the rim. Ripon finished the afternoon shooting 40.4 percent from the field and won key battles on the boards during crunch time.

The Red Hawks' defensive effort and composure down the stretch sealed the win, as they limited mistakes and closed the game with confident execution at the free-throw line.

Ripon will return to action on the road Wednesday, Feb 4, traveling to Lawrence for a 5:30pm tipoff.