RIPON, Wis. — Ty Sabin’s 3-pointer in overtime gave the Ripon College men’s basketball team the lead for good Saturday, and the Red Hawks went on to an 88-80 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University at the Storzer Center.
Ty Sabin scored 34 points to pace Ripon (1-1, 1-0 MWC), and Ty Ketz added 21. Koy Brecklin had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Red Hawks.
Jamie Nikitas scored a career-high 34 points, grabbed nine rebounds, handed out five assists and picked up three steals for the Vikings (1-2, 0-1). Troy Miller added 16 points for Lawrence.
After Pete Winslow’s three-point play gave the Vikings a 77-75 lead with 3:06 left in overtime, Sabin countered with a 3-pointer for a 78-77 advantage.
After the Vikings missed a 3-pointer, Ketz made a pair of free throws and Sabin followed with a layup as Ripon pulled away.
The Vikings trailed by 10 with six minutes left in regulation, but Lawrence went on a 12-1 run to take the lead.
Ben Peterson hit a jumper and Miller made a pair of free throws to start the rally. Jeremy Stephani and Miller hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and Nikitas’ layup with 3:29 left put Lawrence up 63-62.
Lawrence was up 70-66 after Nikitas’ jumper with 27 seconds left, but Brecklin grabbed an offensive rebound on the next possession and was fouled. He hit the first free throw, missed the second and Ripon grabbed the rebound again.
Sabin was then fouled on a 3-point try and made all three free throws with 17 seconds left to tie the game at 70-70. The Vikings missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won it.