RIVER GROVE, ILL. - The narrative is becoming all too familiar to the Madison College men's basketball team when taking on a nationally ranked opponent: hang with them the entire game only to fall just short at the final buzzer. This time it was a 73-69 road loss Wednesday to #5 Triton College in the North Central Community College Conference (N4C) opener against the defending league champs. The loss is the first to begin conference play in three years and marks the 14th consecutive loss in the head-to-head series with the Trojans.

The WolfPack fell behind 19-4 in the game's first five minutes, but responded with an 10-2 run to close within seven. The action was back-and-forth the rest of the half as last year's NJCAA Division II National Runners-Up Triton College (15-1, 1-0) owned a 40-34 lead at the half.

The second half opened with a Tyree Young three-pointer and an interior basket from Shane Waldon to make it a one-point deficit, but that's as close as Madison College (6-8, 0-1) would get. The Trojans surged to a 12-point lead at 62-50 with 9:43 to play before the 'Pack clawed their way back in. Another three ball from Young closed the gap to 69-67 with just over three minute remaining, while another Waldon jumper in the paint cut it back to two inside of the final minute. However, after a defensive stop gave Madison College the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead, Waldon missed a turnaround baby hook off the glass. Triton would seal the win with two free throws.



The WolfPack committed 19 turnovers, which the Trojans cashed in for 20 points as compared to just six Madison College points off 13 Triton miscues. The visitors shot 27-for-57 (47%) from the floor and 6-for-20 (30%) at the three-point arc in their first game back after an 18-day break for the holidays and end of semester. The 'Pack was slightly better on the glass with a 36-31 edge in total rebounds.

Waldon, a native of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and a UW-Whitewater transfer, had his best outing of the season going 10-for-15 overall and hitting 6-of-9 free throws for a career-best 26 points. His team-leading ten rebounds gives Waldon three double-doubles in his last four games played after missing the two games in the Gogebic Community College Classic right before the break. He leads the team in scoring at 15.6 points a game.

Freshmen Paul Schmelzer III and Tyree Young each hit a pair of three-pointers to score in double-figures. Schmelzer dropped in 14 points for his ninth consecutive game with ten or more points. He also had a team-best three steals. Young surpassed the ten-point mark for the eight time this season with 12 points. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native was matched by fellow first year Stavon Staples for team-high honors in assists with four.

The top-ten challenges continue for Madison College as they will host Joliet Junior College (14-3, 0-1) on Saturday. The Wolves are ranked seventh in the latest NJCAA Division III Poll, but began their conference slate with a 81-74 home loss to #9 Rock Valley College. The WolfPack has not defeated JJC since November 2004 and have dropped 17 consecutive games in the head-to-head series, which is lead 19-4 by Joliet. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.

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

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