PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Luke Meinholz finished with a near triple-double for Ripon College and the Lakeland University men's basketball team battled but fell 75-63 Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies spent the afternoon chasing but never could catch the Red Hawks and dropped to 0-3 on the season. Ripon improved to 2-1 this season after defeating Lakeland for the second straight year.

The Muskies fell in a 10-0 hole to start the game, going more than six minutes before getting on the board in what would prove to be a physical contest throughout. Despite the early struggles, Lakeland would work its way back to get within a whisker of the lead on multiple occasions, and was within two possessions inside of six minutes left in the game.

The Muskies chipped away throughout the first half and before and after halftime got within one point of Ripon on a total of six occasions. An 8-0 run capped by a three-point play by Tim Ward (Jr.-Plainfield, Ill.) cut the Red Hawks' lead to 29-28 with 1:48 left in the first half, and after the teams traded baskets Ripon would edge ahead 33-30 at halftime.

Lakeland would get within a point four more times early in the second half, the last time when Cliff McCray (Sr.-Madison, Wis.) hit a three-pointer to make it 40-39 with 17:17 left in the game. Ripon would answer with six straight points, and would start to put a little distance on the Muskies. The Red Hawks built their biggest lead to that point at 57-45 after a jumper by Cade Tackmier with 10:58 remaining, and the guests held tenuous control the rest of the way.

Lakeland still refused to go away, and was back within 60-54 after two free throws by Peyton Mrotek (Jr.-Luxemburg, Wis.) with 7:53 left. The Muskies got even closer when Ward split two free throws to cut the deficit to 62-57 with under six minutes remaining, but Dominic Galati hit a short jumper for Ripon and Meinholz came up with a steal and a breakaway dunk and Lakeland never got closer than seven again.

Meinholz posted a unique stat line with 25 points, 11 rebounds and eight steals, and his points came after making 5 of 10 from the field and 15 of 20 free throws. He started the game hitting just three of his first seven at the line, but then knocked down 12 straight foul shots in the second half.

Mrotek led Lakeland with 18 points, hitting 5 of 10 from the field and all seven free throws. McCray also pitched in 15 points and six rebounds off the bench and Ward added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Isaiah Hammond (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) also notched eight points plus nine rebounds.

The Muskies shot 40.7% (22 of 54) but outrebounded Ripon 35-30. Lakeland committed 23 turnovers, though, and the Red Hawks finished with a 22-5 advantage in points off turnovers.

Lakeland plays on the road for the first time this season when it travels to face Martin Luther (Minn.) College on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in New Ulm, Minn.