The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team built a double-digit lead midway through the second half Friday night but was unable to withstand a rally by host Ripon in an 82-77 setback.
 
The Warhawks (7-3 overall) increased their lead to 57-43 just past the midway point of the second half on a layup by Jameer Barker (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine's).
 
The Red Hawks (6-3) scored the next eight points and continued to chip away at their deficit, eventually taking their first lead of the half following a jumper with 4:50 to play.
 
UW-Whitewater tied the game at 64-64 on a jumper by Derek Gray (Madison, Wis./La Follette) with 3:39 left, but Ripon took the lead for good with a 3-pointer on the next possession and built its advantage all the way up to nine points.
 
Elijah Lambert (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine's) brought the Warhawks to within one possession on a layup with 55 seconds remaining, but the Red Hawks iced the game on the next possession with a 3-pointer.
 
Gray totaled 19 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals to lead the Warhawks, who shot 55.6 percent from the floor but were outscored 23-12 at the free-throw line. Jack Brahm (Bayside, Wis./Glendale Nicolet) collected 13 points, four rebounds and two steals, and JT Hoytink (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) registered 11 points, all in the first half.
 
Lambert and Gage Malensek (Brookfield, Wis./Central) each chipped in with eight points.
 
Ripon led by as many as 18 points in the opening period, pushing its lead to 32-14 at the 7:27 mark of the half.
 
UW-W took advantage of hot shooting to close the half on a 26-4 run, knocking down a trio of 3-pointers over that span and shooting 15-of-25 (60 percent) for the period.
 
The Warhawks held a 36-16 advantage on points in the paint and a 12-4 edge in fast-break points.
 
UW-Whitewater hosts Augustana (Ill.) this Wednesday. Tipoff at Kachel Gymnasium is slated for 7 p.m.