MONMOUTH, Ill. – One night after experiencing the high of a one-point game, Ripon was on the other end of things Saturday afternoon. After a buzzer beating win at Lake Forest on Friday, the Red Hawks dropped Saturday's game at Monmouth College 80-79, as they failed to hit the shot at the end two days in a row in a game that featured nine ties and nine lead changes.

Ripon (7-5, 5-1) seemed to control the tempo early, as they led for the first nine minutes of the game. That quickly changed when Monmouth's Blaise Rogers hit a three-pointer to put them up by two. Monmouth (7-6, 3-4) built on that lead for the rest of the half, leading by as many as eight points. Ripon took the lead back with 15 seconds left on a Tyler Fischer jumper, but Monmouth's Scott Scholten nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Fighting Scots a two-point halftime advantage.

Monmouth wasted no time in the second half building on that momentum, scoring eight consecutive points in the first two minutes of the second period. Trailing by 10 with 12 and a half minutes to play, Ripon made their move. The Red Hawks were able to cut the lead to two points on a jumper by Vehantre Brown. After a couple Monmouth baskets, the Red Hawks made one final push, using a 7-0 run to tie the game at 73 with under four minutes to play. With a minute and a half to play, Monmouth once again took the lead, only to be tied once again at 78 with just under one minute left on a Brian Schmitting free throw. Schmitting then proceded to hit the second of two to give Ripon their first lead since midway through the first half. On Monmouth's ensuing possession, Caleb Bennett was fouled and hit both free throws for the Fighting Scots, setting up what seemed to be deja vu all over again. Ripon held for the final shot, but Paul Wise could not duplicate Friday night's feat and the Red Hawks were handed their first conference loss of the season.

Ripon received a balanced attack with five players scoring in double figures. Wise and Schmitting each finished with 19 points to lead the way. Schmitting added a game-high 14 rebounds. David McMullen finished with 12 points and six assists, while Brown chipped in with 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists off the bench. Chris Kellett scored 10 points in a reserve role as well.

Monmouth was led by Rogers' 17 points and four assists. Raun Singleton added 13 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Bennett, Josh Reschke, and Andy Moore each finished with 10 points for the Fighting Scots, who won the game, despite shooting 38 percent from the field in the second half.

Ripon will try to get back on the winning track on Friday, as they'll host the run-and-gun Grinnell Pioneers at 7:00 p.m. That game will be preceded by the women's contest against Grinnell at 5:00.