Wheaton's Cade Alioth hit a three-pointer with under a minute to play and that was the game winner, as the Thunder got stops and free throws to seal a 66-62 win over Ripon. The Red Hawks hung tough and took a 62-61 lead on Jaylen Mahone's three with 62 seconds left, but Alioth answered and put Wheaton (6-0) back in front. Ripon (2-3) came up empty on its next possession and All-American Nyameye Adom grabbed the defensive rebounds, got fouled and sunk two free throws.

 

Adom and Eli Consedine scored 19 points apiece for Wheaton, which opens CCIW play on Wednesday night at Carthage. 

 

No. 1 Randolph-Macon shot 50 percent from the field and cruised past No. 24 New Jersey City, 78-58, at Christopher Newport's holiday weekend event. The Yellow Jackets led by 20 with five minutes gone in the second half and 29 with three minutes to play. Buzz Anthony scored 19 for Randolph-Macon which will play host CNU tomorrow. The Captains (4-2) got 44 points from their reserves and rolled over Alvernia, 101-65.

 

No. 15 UW-La Crosse erased a 17-point second half deficit and rallied past Wartburg on the road, 83-78. Trailing 58-41 with 14:34 to play, the Eagles ripped off a 28-8 run and took the lead. After Wartburg (5-1) tied the game at 72, Ethan Anderson put UW-La Crosse in front to stay with a three-pointer. Austin Westra came off the Eagles' bench to score 19 points. 

 

The Eagles share the best record in Division III with conference mates UW-Platteville. The Pioneers (7-0) got a double-double from Kyle Tuma (11 points, 11 rebounds) and 18 points from Quentin Shields in an 81-62 win over Bethel. UW-Platteville opens WIAC play at UW-La Crosse on Wednesday night.

 

Trinity (Texas) came up just short in its bid to start 7-0, as Carleton knocked off the Tigers, 103-100. Alex Battist scored a career-high 30 points on 11 for 20 shooting for the Pipers (3-1).

 

After playing its first three games on the road, No. 13 Emory won its home opener over Guilford, 66-55. The Eagles (2-2) went 13 for 30 from three, led by Romin Williams who hit four shots from beyond the arc. Emory hosts No. 23 Maryville tomorrow after the Scots took care of Olgethorpe, 81-72.

 

Carnegie Mellon outlasted Washington and Jefferson 104-99 in overtime in a scoring duel between R.J. Holmes and Kyran Mitchell. Holmes posted 32 points and 13 rebounds for Carnegie Mellon (4-2) and Mitchell nearly had a triple-double for the Presidents (27 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists). 

 

In women's action, No. 14 Hardin-Simmons beat Colorado College for its sixth win in six tries while Principia won for the first time in a long time.

 

The Cowgirls came from behind to beat Colorado College 74-73 on Hallie Edmonson's three-pointer with less than a minute to play. The Tigers (2-3) held the lead for much of the fourth quarter, including a 68-61 advantage with 4:57 to play. Hardin-Simmons (6-0) tied the game at 71 on She'ray Wilson's three-pointer and then, after Colorado College went back in front, the Cowgirls took the lead for good on Edmonson's game-winning shot. Wilson paced HSU with 26 points in 36 minutes.

 

Four other teams also improved to 6-0 on Saturday. UW-Eau Claire punctuated an impressive eight-day stretch by blowing out Edgewood, 80-43. That followed the Blugolds win over No. 6 Simpson on Friday night and its win over No. 3 Trine last weekend. No. 18 UW-Whitewater has the same record after a 83-54 win at Loras. Drew and Oberlin upped their records to 6-0 with wins over King's and Wittenberg respectively.

 

Principia halted Division III basketball's longest active losing streak at 39 games, as the Panthers defeated Knox 65-62 in overtime. With the game tied at 62 and 11 seconds left, Knox fouled Principia's Lydia Klutho. She made the first free throw and missed the second, but Tylaih Williams grabbed the offensive rebound. She was fouled and made both three throws to put the game away.

 

Prior to Saturday, Principia's last win was December 15, 2018 against now-NAIA member Iowa Wesleyan. Wells College, which now has the longest losing streak at 35 games, hosts Oswego State on Sunday.