By ELLIOT AVE-LALLEMANT
Beloit men’s and women’s basketball were handed back-to-back losses in their latest encounter with cross town rivals Ripon College. The final score of the women’s game was 69-41, and the final score for the men’s game was 72-60.
This event was advertised all around campus, with incentives like free pizza and “Ruck Fipon” t-shirts for anyone who attended. On top of that, the sponsor of the game, Duluth Trading Company, offered prizes during the halftime of both games.
The women’s team played first, and struggled to find rhythm in the first quarter against Ripon’s strong defense, with the Bucs making costly mistakes in the fast break and from the free throw line. Beloit also struggled defensively and were unable to press Ripon’s high-scoring offense. After a hard-fought first half, Beloit only managed to score 17 points, with Ripon scoring 36. In the second half, Beloit improved on the defensive side, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to keep Ripon at bay. Offensively, Beloit scored more points in the second half, but even with the defensive improvement, couldn’t keep up with Ripon. The final score was 69-41.
After a short break, the men’s basketball team took the court. There were times where Beloit struggled to keep up in this fast-paced game, but they continued to show that they weren’t going down easy. The Bucs struggled defensively and were ultimately worn down by the physical Ripon offense. Many players showed strong offensive performances, such as 5th-year Brian Rusch, who scored 17 of Beloit’s 60 points. The Bucs’ center, Azeez Ganyu, had a high-scoring game of 17, with his dunk being the highlight of the game for many Beloit fans. Unfortunately, Ripon outgunned Beloit’s determined team and ended the game 72-60.
The student section in both of the games was alive, although many lost hope toward the end of the women’s game. It got so bad that I saw someone reading a book in the third quarter (is that you, A.J. Brown?). The entire stadium was filled with blue “Ruck Fipon” shirts, and many students led chants to create a great basketball atmosphere. The beaver mascot of Duluth Trading Company was also present, and he helped out with the t-shirt toss, though many people were confused as to why he was there when a beaver is not Beloit’s mascot.
Beloit women’s basketball’s next home game is against Lake Forest College on February 22. The men’s team takes on Maranatha Baptist University at home next.
Featured image: Beloit College
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