MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College men's basketball team took a six-point halftime lead and turned into a resounding 81-58 thrashing of #7 Joliet Junior College Saturday at Redsten Gymnasium, sending a major statement to the rest of the North Central Community College Conference. The win snapped a three-game losing streak against the Wolves and marked just the fifth win all-time for the WolfPack in the head-to-head series.

Leading by just a basket one minute into the second half, Madison College went on the first of several extended scoring runs to pull away from Joliet Junior College (14-4, 0-2). The 10-0 burst returned the home team's advantage to double-digits for the first time since leading 34-24 with 1:22 to play in the first half. A 12-0 surge highlighted by a pair of Stavon Staples three-pointers extended the lead to 23 at 60-37, and a 9-2 run handed the WolfPack it's largest lead of the game at 75-48 with 4:17 remaining. Madison College made 21 of their 33 shots in the second half, setting a season-high for shooting accuracy in a half at 63% as they outscored a team ranked seventh in the latest NJCAA Division III Poll by a 47-30 margin over the final 20 minutes.

The game opened with an early JJC lead before Staples tied it at five with his first make from long range. The WolfPack took the lead for good after a steal and layup by former Sun Prairie (WI) HS athlete Deshawn Black. By the halfway point of the half, the lead was to double-figures as an 11-2 span put Madison College up 30-16. The 'Pack controlled the glass by a 44-32 margin and were plus-16 (42-26) in scoring in the paint en route to their first win in five tries against team's ranked in the top ten in the country. The Wolves were the 'Pack's third ranked opponent in the last four games.

Sophomore Shane Waldon knocked down 8-of-11 shots and paced Madison College with 18 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. The UW-Whitewater transfer and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin native has scored in double-figures in ten of his 12 games played this season.

Freshmen Tyree Young and Stavon Staples each finished with 17 points, both falling two points shy of matching career highs. Young used a 9-for-11 effort at the free throw line to get there to supplement a 4-of-8 shooting mark overall. He has scored ten or more points in ten of the last dozen games. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native also handed out a team-best four assists. Staples, a product of Madison (WI) East HS, was 3-for 6 from outside the three-point line and 7-of-15 from the floor as he made his second consecutive appearance in the WolfPack starting lineup.
 
In the midst of playing four games over eight days, Madison College turns right around and travels to NJCAA Division II Kishwaukee College (9-7) on Monday night. The WolfPack are just 3-16 all-time against the Kougars, but did earn a narrow 79-76 decision last year in Madison to end a four-game skid in the series. Tip off in Malta, Illinois, is at 7:30 p.m.

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

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