APPLETON, Wis. -- Ripon men's basketball came up just short in a hard-fought road contest Wednesday night, falling 75-71 at Lawrence in Midwest Conference action. The Red Hawks battled from start to finish and had opportunities late, but were unable to complete the comeback in the closing seconds.

Ripon set the tone early with an efficient offensive first half, moving the ball well and knocking down shots from the perimeter. Junior Seth Bunders (Wauzeka, Wis., Wauzeka-Steuben HS) provided a spark throughout the opening 20 minutes, connecting from deep and attacking the rim to keep the Red Hawks within striking distance. Ripon went into halftime trailing by just two points, 46-44, after shooting over 57 percent from the field in the first half.

Bunders led all scorers with 21 points, finishing 5-for-8 from three-point range while playing 37 minutes. Senior Kolby Williams (New Orleans, La., Heights HS) followed with 16 points, adding five rebounds and four assists. Williams was aggressive getting to the basket and made the most of his trips to the free-throw line. Junior Jack Field (Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Marian University) gave Ripon a boost off the bench with 10 points on efficient shooting, including two three-pointers, while freshman Joey Daun (Neenah, Wis., Neenah HS) contributed six points and two assists.

The second half saw Ripon continue to fight on both ends of the floor. Defensive pressure led to transition opportunities, and the Red Hawks chipped away at the deficit in the final minutes. Ripon closed the gap to two points late and calmly knocked down free throws in the closing moments to stay within reach, but a final look at the basket would not fall.

Overall, Ripon finished the night shooting 50 percent from three-point range and over 93 percent from the free-throw line, highlighting a strong offensive performance despite the result.

The Red Hawks return home on Saturday, Feb 7, to host Monmouth in a 1pm Midwest Conference matchup.