UW-Stout 80, Ripon College 68
MENOMONIE (January 7, 2009) - Eric Hostetter (So, Stillwater, Minn) was 6-for-6 from 3-point range and scored a game-high 20 points as UW-Stout defeated Ripon College, 80-68, Wednesday at Johnson Fieldhouse.
Hostetter, whose 20 points matched a career-high, led a Stout 3-point barrage where the Blue Devils (5-7) drained 10-of-14 from downtown. Alex Mason (Sr, St. Paul, Minn) was 2-for-2 and finished with 10 points. Jerrel Enerson-Matthews (Jr, Anoka, Minn) hit one long range shot, but finished the night with 17 points.
Stout jumped out to 10-0 lead, then built that to 21-10 midway through the first half before Ripon (3-5) came back to take the lead, 27-25 with about five minutes to play before intermission. Stout grabbed the lead back and held a slim 35-34 halftime advantage.
Stout several times built the lead to 10 points in the second half, only to see the Red Hawks slice into the lead, getting as close as 53-50 with nine minutes left in the game.
The Red Hawks got 10 points from Rich Cloeter, who hit 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Scott Gillespie added 15 points and Martin Esters finished with 11.
While coming up just short of their season average, Stout outrebounded Ripon, 41-27. Ripon held a decided advantage on the free throw line, putting in 16-of-27 shots. Stout connected on 8-of-11 charity shots. John Donald (Sr, Milwaukee) recorded a career-high five assists. Enerson-Matthews also had five assists and Hostetter finished with four.
The 45 points Stout scored in the second half are the most points the Blue Devils have scored in a second half this season and the second-most points they have scored in a single half this year. Stout scored 52 points in the first half of a 96-43 blowout of Northland College in November.
Stout will be at UW-La Crosse, Saturday, Jan. 10 and at UW-Stevens Point, Wednesday, Jan. 14. The Blue Devils host UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Jan. 17.
