ROCKFORD, ILL. - It hadn't been done since 2013, but the Madison College men's basketball team snapped a eight-game losing streak against Rock Valley College by knocking off the #3 Golden Eagles, 73-67, south of the border Wednesday. The WolfPack led wire-to-wire en route to earning their third win - after an earlier loss to then top-ranked South Suburban College was ruled a forfeit win due to an ineligible player - over a nationally ranked opponent in six tries this season. Their seventh straight win also mean's the 'Pack will play Saturday against Triton College for a share of the North Central Community College Conference lead, something the program has never held this late in a season since joining the league seven years ago.

The WolfPack have proven to be one of the more efficient offensive team's around of late, a trend that continued against the defending league and national champions. Madison College (14-7, 6-1) shot 50 percent (28-56) overall to mark the fourth consecutive game in which they hit that benchmark. Aiding in that achievement was a stretch of six straight baskets after opening the game with a missed layup, soon followed by a 9-0 run that built a 25-13 advantage less than ten minutes into the game. It would prove to be the largest lead of the half, which ended with a 36-31 lead for the visitors.

The second half saw Rock Valley College (16-7, 4-3) narrow the differential to a single point three times, however, the WolfPack had an answer on each occasion. The biggest response started when Tyree Young's layup ignited a quick seven-point run that he bookended with a three-pointer to extend the edge back to double digits with 4:12 remaining. Madison College converted 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal the win, it's tenth in 19 games in Rockford, Illinois.

The WolfPack took extreme care of the basketball, committing just nine turnovers to match the season's best total set 18 game's prior. The visitors were five points better in points off turnovers (13-8) and plus-14 in points in the paint (38-24).

Freshman guard Paul Schmelzer III made half his shots from long range, going 4-for-9 outside the arc as part of a 21-point evening that matched his career high. The former Monona Grove (WI) HS athlete reached double figures for the third time in the last six games, and was the team's top scorer for just the second time this season. Schmelzer also grabbed six rebounds in his 35 minutes of action.

Shane Waldon and Tyree Young also found their way into double-digit scoring. Waldon finished with 18 points and six rebounds, while Young added 14 points and led the team with seven rebounds and four assists.

Madison College will play its biggest N4C game ever on Saturday when it hosts NJCAA DII #3 Triton College (21-1, 7-0). The Trojans are a game better then the WolfPack in the league standings and currently own an 11-game win streak, including a narrow 73-69 victory over the 'Pack earlier this month. Triton is 18-2 all-time against Madison College, which has lost 14 in a row in the series dating back to a road win in 2010 that was the first meeting between the two programs as conference foes. Tip off is at 3:00 p.m. at H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium.

The game will be broadcast live on MadisonCollege.TV and via the Madison College Athletics Facebook page.

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