Metcalf, Williams Both Score 20 in Saturday Win over Ripon

Metcalf posts double double as Monmouth wins fourth in a row

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (01/14/2023) — The Monmouth College men's basketball team built an 18-point lead and held on for a 76-70 home win over Ripon on Saturday. The Fighting Scots (10-6, 6-1) put four players in double figures as they won their fourth straight game.

Ripon scored the first basket of the game before Declan Flynn (Monmouth, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer for the Scots. Jordan Metcalf (Aledo, Illinois) scored the next four points for Monmouth as the hosts went on top 7-4. Ripon tied the game before Metcalf scored again. David Williams (Loves Park, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer and Jordan Hill (Chicago, Illinois) made a layup for a 14-7 Scots lead. Ripon scored the next six before Turner Plumer (Canton, Illinois) scored on a put-back. Hill made a layup for an 18-13 lead then splashed a 3-pointer against his former team.

Yuvraj Sidhu (Coppell, Texas) put Monmouth up 23-14 and Williams hit a long 3-pointer. The Red Hawks scored the next four before Metcalf grabbed a bucket in the lane. Flynn scored on a put-back for a 30-21 lead as the clock went under 5:00. Metcalf scored at the rim and Ripon split free throws. Metcalf scored again to reach double digits for the half as Monmouth pushed the lead to 12. Ripon went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 34-28 before Plumer scored in the lane. Hill scored on a layup in the final seconds of the half for a 38-30 Monmouth lead.

Metcalf grabbed the first basket of the second half and Ripon picked up a flopping technical, converted by Williams at the line for a 41-30 lead. Kyle Taylor (Moline, Illinois) buried a 3-pointer for a 44-32 lead. After Ripon scored, Williams made a 3-pointer to push the lead to 13, then hit a runner in the lane. The visitors scored but Kendall Brasfield (Chicago, Illinois) made a 3-pointer and Hill made a free throw for a 55-39 lead. Ripon got within 10 before Williams hit a 3-pointer for a 58-45 lead as the clock went under 11:00. Metcalf made a pair of free throws and Flynn nailed a 3-pointer for a 63-45 Monmouth lead. Ripon went on a 7-0 run and Monmouth called timeout with 6:40 to play, leading 63-52.

Out of the timeout, Metcalf scored in the lane to push the lead back to 11 then scored again on the next trip. Leading by 15, the Scots denied the Red Hawks on the next two possessions before the visitors scored with 4:50 left. Williams hit his fifth 3-pointer of the game for a 70-56 lead but the Red Hawks answered with 3:35 left. Brasfield found Plumer on the fast break for a layup as Monmouth pushed the lead to 72-59 before Ripon hit a 3-pointer with 1:57 to play. Metcalf moved his point tally to 20 with a dunk before Ripon hit another 3-pointer to cut the lead to 74-67. Ripon stole the inbounds pass and hit another 3-pointer with 1:10 left and shave the Scots lead down to 74-70. Williams hit a pair of free throws and Ripon missed a 3-pointer. The Scots missed a pair of free throws but prevented the Red Hawks from scoring again.

Metcalf and Williams both scored 20 points in the win and Metcalf grabbed 11 rebounds. Hill and Flynn both had 10 points and Brasfield led the team with three assists. Metcalf was 8-for-8 from the field in the win.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Monmouth lost both games to Ripon last February and had lost four in a row in the series. The last 10 games are even 5-5 between Monmouth and Ripon. Taylor has made at least one 3-pointer in 13 games this season. Williams set a new season and career high with five 3PM, topping the four he made on Jan. 2 against Lawrence. Metcalf has scored at least 10 points in 12 games this season. He also has at least five rebounds in 15 of the 16 games with six games in double digits. Monmouth was 10-for-13 at the free throw line and also made 10 3-pointers. The Scots outrebounded Ripon 36-29. The Scots host Cornell after the women's 5:30 p.m. game against the Rams on Tuesday.