RIPON, Wis. - Despite a cold shooting night, Grinnell College's men's basketball team hung tight with preseason Midwest Conference favorite Ripon College for most of Tuesday's game.

But the Red Hawks managed to hold off the visitors for an 81-70 victory to remain unbeaten in league play.

Grinnell shot just 28.2 percent from the field, hitting 24-of-85 shots, and was just 40 percent from the line where Ripon held a 32-15 edge in attempts.

Adam Phillips '23 led the Pioneers with 18 points, draining 6-of-13 tries from 3-point range in the process. Patrick Simms '22 added 14 points. Jackson Leone '25 and Simms each had six rebounds, with Leone's total representing a career-high.

Phillips dished out a career-high four assists, the same total as Simms. Simms also had four steals for the Pioneers, who are 6-6 overall and 1-4 in the league, while Tommy Smith '22 had three blocks.

Grinnell used a six-point run in the first half to convert a three-point deficit into a three-point lead, as Simms drained a jumper in the paint and made a free throw and Phillips sank a trey for a 17-14 edge.

Ripon responded with a 7-0 run, built a nine-point lead a bit later and went into the locker room with a 37-32 lead.

Grinnell trailed by five early in the second half, but Tate McLean '23 made a 3-pointer and David Bluder '25 tallied a short-range jumper to tie the contest at 46-all with 15:25 left.

Ripon followed with a four-point run and built its lead as large as 13 late in the game before winning by 11. With the win, the hosts improved to 8-4 in all games and 4-0 in the MWC.

Grinnell is on the road again Saturday with a contest at Lawrence University. Tip-off is at 1 p.m.