RIPON, Wis. – Asanjai Hunter (Sr.-Racine, Wis.) scored 30 points to set a new career high and the Lakeland University men's basketball team made the plays down the stretch for a 77-73 victory over Ripon College Tuesday night at Ripon's Weiske Gymnasium.

The Muskies stayed a step ahead of the Red Hawks down the stretch and won for the second time this season, improving to 2-2 overall. Lakeland also defeated Ripon for the first time since 1974, snapping a 13-game losing streak in the series with the Red Hawks.

The teams were close all night with 12 ties and 15 lead changes, but the Muskies never trailed in the game's final 16 minutes, 41 seconds. Lakeland took the lead at 43-41 early in the second half on a fast break basket by Jaxson Dillon (Sr.-Menasha, Wis.), and the closest Ripon would get the rest of the way was a 48-48 tie on two free throws by Sam Leoni with 11:22 left.

The Muskies responded with nine straight points, seven of them scored by Hunter including two free throws to make it 57-48 with 9:30 remaining. The Red Hawks drew back to as close as two on two occasions, the last time on a short jumper by Leoni to make it 64-62, but Lakeland again had the answers down the stretch. Ripon was still within three with more than three minutes left but Hunter scored in the paint again to make it 70-65, and then scored again inside to push the lead to 72-65 with 1:13 left. The Red Hawks got no closer than four points the rest of the way.

Lakeland held a slim 35-33 lead at halftime after an opening 20 minutes that included eight ties and 11 lead changes. Neither team led by more than five in the first half, but the Muskies took the lead into halftime after Hunter's two free throws with 29 seconds left in the period.

Hunter finished making 9 of 20 from the field and 11 of 13 from the free throw line in besting his previous career high of 29 set in February against Concordia University Wisconsin. Dillon also scored 16 points and Max Justic (Fr.-Chicago, Ill.) added 12 points plus four assists.

Parker Braun (Jr.-Brillion, Wis.) also added six points plus a team-high seven rebounds and Emmitt Konieczny (So.-Marshfield, Wis.) led the team with four assists. Lakeland finished shooting 36.5% (23 of 63) but made 25 of 30 free throws (83.3%) and also committed just seven turnovers.

Seth Bunders led Ripon (0-3 overall) with 20 points. The Red Hawks shot 46.9% (23 of 49) but turned the ball over 15 times.

The Muskies defeated Ripon for the first time since a 101-79 victory Feb. 16, 1974.

Lakeland now gets ready for its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener next Monday against St. Norbert College in De Pere at 7 p.m.