GALESBURG, Illinois – Ripon College tipped in a missed shot with the time winding down to edge the Prairie Fire 70-69 in a back-and-forth game on Saturday at Memorial Gym.

Knox took a one point lead on the previous possession when senior Mitch Murphy (Bushnell, IL, Bushnell-Prairie City) rebounded his own miss and fed first-year Orlando Brown (Chicago, IL, Hinsdale South) for a basket inside with about 30 seconds remaining.  The Red Hawks came back the other way and missed a layup that Justin Leistikow put back in for his only points with seven seconds on the clock.

The Prairie Fire (6-17, 4-14 MWC) couldn't get a shot off on their last trip down the floor, and Ripon hung on for the hard-earned win.

The Red Hawks led 8-0 before first-year DJ Lewis (Chino Hills, CA, Chino Hills) drained a 3-pointer to get Knox on the board five minutes into the contest.  Sophomore Robert Suntken (Naperville, IL, Naperville Central) scored five of the next seven points for the hosts to even the score at 10 with 12:48 remaining.

Ripon (15-8, 12-6 MWC) extended the lead to 16-11 when Murphy erupted for eight consecutive points and Brown knocked down a jumper for a 10 point swing that gave the Prairie Fire a 21-16 advantage with a little more than seven minutes left.

The teams traded the lead three more times, but a bucket by Murphy that beat the halftime buzzer tied game at 27.

Both squads had a tough time making shots in the first half.  Knox connected on 36 percent (10-of-28) overall and missed five of seven free throw attempts, but benefitted from five 3-point baskets.  The Red Hawks shot a chilly 33 percent (9-of-27) with a pair of treys, and made 7-of-11 foul shots.

Murphy, who had 10 points at the break, continued his hot shooting with a 3-pointer early in the second half that gave the Prairie Fire a 35-31 lead.  Ripon responded by going on a 16-6 run that resulted in a six point cushion with 14:09 remaining.

Knox rallied with a 12-2 surge that included 3-point baskets by Suntken and sophomore Liam Nash (Nashville, TN, University School of Nashville) to move back in front 53-49 with 11:33 to go.

A steal by Suntken that led to a bucket by Lewis snapped a 63-all tie, and sophomore Mike Martin (Metamora, IL, Metamora) sank two free throws after Ripon's Ty Sabin split a pair to make it a 67-64 lead for the Prairie Fire with 1:22 to play.

Kyle Loughrin, a 65 percent free throw shooter coming into the game, hit four straight from the stripe to give the Red Hawks a slim 68-67 edge and set up the dramatic finish.

Both teams shot the basketball well in the second half – Ripon nearly 64 percent and Knox 54 percent.  The Prairie Fire connected on 12-of-24 attempts from 3-point distance in the game while the Red Hawks held a 19-9 advantage at the free throw line.

Murphy, playing in his last college basketball game, led Knox with four 3-pointers a season-high 20 points.  Suntken scored 11 points while Martin and Lewis added 10 points apiece.  Brown pulled down a team-best nine rebounds to go with eight points.

Sabin and Loughrin both scored 24 points and they combined for all 19 of Ripon's made free throws.

Knox recognized the seniors on the team before the game: Murphy, Dillon Eighner (Hoopeston, IL, Hoopeston), and Eric Crawford (Maywood, IL, Providence St. Mel).

The Prairie Fire's six wins and four Midwest Conference victories are the most since the 2007-08 season.