GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College men's basketball team fell victim to a furious Ripon College comeback in a loss earlier this month.
 
The Pioneers made sure that didn't happen again, as they held off the Red Hawks for a 107-92 victory at Darby Gymnasium for their sixth win in a row. More importantly, the Pioneers remained a half-game behind Midwest Conference leader St. Norbert College as they improved to 11-2 in league play and 15-4 overall. Ripon fell to 7-5 in the MWC and 11-7 overall.
 
Grinnell featured a balanced scoring attack, with Vinny Curta '19 scoring 20 points, Patrick Simms '22 tallying a career-best 18 with the aid of 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point land, Tyler Grumhaus '21 hitting for 14, Hannes Kogelnik '21 putting in 12 and Jackson Qualley '22 scoring 10.
 
Simms and Grumhaus added career bests of six and five rebounds, respectively. Curta dished out six assists, Brad Geiman '21 blocked three shots and Ky-Sean Johnson '19, Simms and Grumhaus each had two steals.
 
Grinnell turned the ball over just six times, tying its lowest mark of the season.
 
The Pioneers gradually pulled away in the first half and led 53-39 at the break. The Red Hawks chipped away in the early portion of the second stanza, eventually coming within three at 61-58 with 14:39 left. Curta then hit a free throw and layup to keep the visitors at bay.
 
Later, leading by five with 9:34 left, the Pioneers delivered a huge blow with an 18-4 run. Morgan Walser '21 began the spurt with a 3-pointer, and Grumhaus later added a trey for an 83-74 cushion. After the visitors closed within seven, Curta made a layup, Zachary Stice '21 sank a 3-pointer, Simms cashed in from close range and Kogelnik made three free throws on a double technical foul to push Grinnell up 93-76. The Pioneers never looked back in securing the win.
 
Grinnell heads to Beloit College Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. contest.