Red Hawks Hold Off Titans In Second Half

Andy Popp tallied 31 points on 77 percent shooting during Ripon College's 66-53 victory over UW-Oshkosh on Friday (Nov. 16) in Wisconsin Dells.

Connecting on 10 of his 13 field goals, Popp also hit 5-of-6 tries from three-point range. He drained all six of his attempts at the foul line and totaled a game-high five assists. Ripon (1-0) used another strong individual performance from Taylor Koth, who booked 13 points and 14 rebounds.

The Titans (0-2) trailed by eight with 11 minutes remaining. Josh Hopfensperger (So. • Neenah) then hit a jumper and sank a lay-up to tighten the gap. With 8:23 on the clock, Dylan Wurtz (Jr. • Kimberly) drove to the hoop and tied the score at 43.

Popp converted lay-ups on his next two possessions to go back on top. He tacked on a jumper and a triple with five minutes to go that made it a 54-48 cushion. The Red Hawks put the game away by scoring their last eight points on free throws.

Ripon finished with 42 percent (21-50) shooting from the field, including 8-of-20 success behind the arc (40 percent). The Red Hawks held a 16-4 advantage in free throws made, knocking down 89 percent of theirs compared to the Titans' 44 percent.

UW-Oshkosh was held to one basket, a Jake Royston (Jr. • Wisconsin Dells) jumper, in the first six minutes of the contest. Meanwhile, Koth scored two free throws and Jake Cull drilled a three-ball to lead, 9-2.

The margin expanded to 19-6 when Popp tallied the final five points of a 7-0 run. The Titans bounced back with a 10-3 spurt that featured deep jumpers by Wurtz and Cory Nickel (Jr. • Waupun). Royston's two free throws with 7:11 on the clock made it 22-16.

Popp let a three-pointer fly just before the first-half horn, and he swished it for a 32-23 lead. UW-Oshkosh came out strong in the second period with six unanswered points. The Titan defense held Ripon scoreless for the first 4:35 of the half.

Royston and Wurtz each finished with 14 points. Andre Wallace (Fr. • Sun Prairie) topped the team with nine rebounds, in addition to his seven points. Sam Mageland (Sr. • Appleton) compiled three assists.

The Titans marked 40 percent (22-55) shooting overall, with 5-of-19 makes from long distance (26 percent). Ripon College held a substantial advantage in rebounds with a 40-26 figure.

UW-Oshkosh stays in Wisconsin Dells for a game against Edgewood College on Saturday (Nov. 17).