Ripon, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team extended its season-opening win streak to seven with a 72-62 victory at Ripon College (Wis.) Thursday night in Doc Weiske '50 Memorial Gymnasium.

The Eagles, ranked third on the  D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, improve to 7-0 on the season while the Red Hawks drop to 1-7.  UWL's 7-0 start is its best since winning its first nine games in 2022-23.

UWL now leads the all-time series, 16-3, with Ripon (Wis.). The Eagles have won the last six meetings between the teams.

Ripon (Wis.) scored the first four points of the game before UWL later tied the game at 8-8 on a Devon Fielding three-pointer. Neither team led by as many as three points before the Eagles took their first lead at 21-19 with 7:54 left in the first half on a JJ Paider layup.

Dustin Derousseau later gave UWL a 25-21 lead before a Sam Leoni jumper and Jack Field three-point field goal gave Ripon (Wis.) a 26-25 advantage with 4:34 remaining.

The game was tied, 28-28, at halftime.

Seth Bunders' three-pointer gave the Red Hawks a 36-33 lead when the Eagles scored the game's next seven points to take a 40-33 lead. Sam Ferge had four points and Derousseau three in the run.

Paider's three-point play with 10:56 remaining gave UWL a 50-49 lead. Bunders later made one-of-two free throws with 9:18 left to cut the lead to 55-53. Sam Grieger's layup and two free throws from Paider extended UWL's lead to 59-53. CJ Brown's jumper for the Red Hawks cut it 59-55 with 6:42 remaining. Ferge's free throw with 6:20 made it 60-55.

The game remained 60-55 until Derousseau's jumper with 3:19 left gave UWL a 62-55 advantage. Michael's Asman's three-point field goal for Ripon (Wis.) cut the lead to 62-58 with 2:55 remaining, but the Red Hawks could get no closer the rest of the game.

Six straight points from UWL extended the lead to 68-58 and the Eagles went four-of-four at the free throw line in the final :24.

Ripon (Wis.) went three-of-13 from the field in the final 9:11 of the game.

UWL shot 45.6% from the field, including 28.0% (seven-of-25) from three-point range, and 61.9% (13-of-21) at the free throw line. The Eagles shot 57.7% (15-of-26) from the field in the second half.

Paider led four players in double figures with 17 points while adding 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. He also had three assists. Derousseau finished with 14 points, four rebounds and two steals while Grieger totaled 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. Ferge finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four steals.

Ripon (Wis.) shot 41.8% from the field, including 34.8% (eight-of-23) from three-point range, and 80.0 (eight-of-10) at the line.

Bunders led four Red Hawks in doubles figures with 14 points. Leoni and Jarton Davis each scored 11 points with Asman adding 10.

UWL returns to action Friday, December 19 versus Concordia University Wisconsin in the Wisconsin Dells D3 Invitational at 4 p.m. in the Justagame Fieldhouse.