MONMOUTH, Ill. - In a game that featured four ties and nine lead changes, including six in the second half, Monmouth defeated Ripon to win the 2018 Midwest Conference Tournament and advance to next week's NCAA Division-III Tournament. Both teams shot a similar percentage from the field, but the difference came at the free throw line where Monmouth converted 88 percent (28-32) of their foul shots and Ripon made 65 percent (11-17) from the charity stripe.

Ripon (18-9) came ready to play, getting out to an early 14-5 lead just four and a half minutes into the contest. That lead disappeared over the next five minutes, as Monmouth (20-7) used a 14-2 run to take their first lead of the game midway through the first half. Ripon grabbed the lead back at the seven-minute mark on one of Seth Kostroski's three 3-pointers in the period. Another Kostroski 3-pointer put Ripon up by six with two and a half minutes before halftime, but Monmouth finished the half on a 12-1 run to take a five-point lead into the locker room, with D.J. Swift sinking a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Red Hawks began the second half on an 8-2 run, taking a one-point lead on a layup by Tyler Semenas, and neither team would lead by more than six points the rest of the way. Monmouth tried to take control, going up by three with 12 minutes remaining, but Ripon answered with seven consecutive points to go up by four. The Red Hawks would hold that lead until the four-minute mark when Monmouth's Justin Batterton gave them a 62-60 advantage. The Fighting Scots would go up by five with one and a half minutes remaining, but Ripon cut that lead to two with 31 seconds to play. That is as close as the Red Hawks would get however, as Monmouth sealed the victory and the Tournament Championship by making all six of their free throws in the final 20 seconds.

Playing in his 99th career game for the Red Hawks, which is tied for second in school history, Senior Isaac Masters finished with 17 points on 3-of-7 shooting from 3-point range, to go along with three rebounds. Trent Jones added 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and six rebounds, while Cal Schultz added 14 points and two steals. Semenas contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Kostroski finished with 11 points in 19 minutes off the bench.

Monmouth was led by Justin Aluya's 25 points and eight rebounds, as he converted 16-of-18 free throws. Batterton added 14 points and seven boards, while MWC Player of the Year Will Jones finished with 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Paul Engo III chipped in with 12 points and four rebounds.

Ripon finishes the season ranking fourth in program history for single season 3-pointers made (180), while ranking seventh in 3-point percentage (.408), ninth in rebounds (922), and fourth in blocked shots (88).