Taking on their third ranked opponent in a four-game stretch, the Madison College men's basketball team was limited at both ends of the floor in a 74-43 road loss to #9 Joliet Junior College on Saturday in Joliet, Illinois. The WolfPack scored a season low in points and failed to have a single player score at least ten for the first time this season.

The game began on a positive note with freshman Markus Tobias converting an old-school three-point play, followed a few minutes later by a Tyler Meier basket to even the score at seven just 4:02 into the game. A 9-0 burst later for Joliet pushed the lead passed double-figures, where it remained the rest of the game. The WolfPack trailed 38-23 at the half and allowed another 9-0 run to open the second half.

The visitors trimmed the deficit back to 13 with 7:43 to play after a mini 7-0 surge, however, it was followed by six straight JJC field goals for a game-best 17-0 run to put the N4C contest out of reach at 71-41.

The home rims were certainly kind to the second-place Wolves as Joliet (16-5, 5-1) shot nearly 52% from the field and connected on a dozen 3-pointers. Meanwhile, Madison College (7-13, 1-5) made just three shots from beyond the arc as part of a 42% overall effort. Their 20 turnovers marked the fourth time this season the 'Pack has reach to that many in a game, and JCC cashed them in for 30 points. Madison College finished with their second lowest assists (10) in a game this season and were out-rebounded 31-24.

Second-year guard Kristian Zimmerman was not in the starting lineup for the first time since the season-opener, but responded with a team-high nine points on 4-of-5 shooting with one three-pointer. Ethan Lurquin tallied seven points as he went 3-for-11 and fell shy of double-figures for a second straight game. Other scorers included Jake Andrews with five points off the bench, and four-point nights for Cortez McCree, Joel O'Donnell, and Malik Henderson. It was the third straight game that Henderson was not in the starting five as coach Scot Vesterdahl seeks an answer to a growing four-game losing skid.

The road stretch continues Wednesday, January 27 at Harper College (10-12, 1-5) in Palatine, Illinois. The WolfPack took the season series last year against the Hawks, snapping a four-game losing streak and evening the all-time series through 16 meetings. Tip off is set for 7:00 p.m.