MADISON, WISC. - For fans of offensive basketball, Friday's night matchup against the Loras College (IA) JV was a dream come true as the Madison College men's basketball team rolled to a 115-81 victory over the Duhawks. It's the most points the WolfPack has scored in exactly eight years after a 130-point night on December 9, 2008, at UW-Rock County. The 2016-17 'Pack have surpassed the century mark in two games this season.
The contest stayed close through the first 15 minutes with five ties and eight lead changes, but with 5:45 to play in the half, the Madison College (6-5) offense began to heat up with a 19-5 scoring burst to take a 16-point lead, 60-44, at the break. That run saw the home team make 6-of-10 shots, including three from beyond the arc, and 4-of-5 free throws. The 60 points is the second-highest scoring half of the season following a 61-point effort against Sauk Valley Community College on November 15.
The momentum carried right into the second half, which opened with a WolfPack 24-5 run and finished with Madison College shooting an impressive 56% for the game, going 45-for-80. In the process, Madison College set a new season-high with 14 made 3-pointers, connecting at a 48% clip from long range. When they weren't hoisting from deep, the 'Pack controlled the interior with a 46-20 advantage in points in the paint and an astounding 53-24 thrashing in the rebound category. Their 18 offensive boards led to 18 second chance point compared to just two points off five offensive rebounds for the Loras College JV.
First year coach
Bill Kegler not only found minutes for 12 players in the game, but everyone who played scored at least four points. Freshman
Jezzriah Burton and sophomore
Shane Waldon tied for team-high honors with 16 points. For Burton, a graduate of Nicolet (WI) HS, it was the most points he has scored since a 17-point night in the season opener. He drained 4-of-6 shots from distance, one make shy of tying his career best, en route to his fifth double-digit scoring game of the season. Waldon, a 6'7" transfer from UW-Whitewater, was 8-for-13 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds for his second double-double in the last three games.
Freshman
Deshawn Black enjoyed his best game, converting all six of his shot attempts as part of a career-high 15 points. The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, native also had five rebounds in 14-plus minutes off the bench. Freshman guard
Paul Schmelzer III was the fourth player in double figures for Madison College, scoring 14 points and matching Burton with four 3-pointers for the second time in three games. The Madison, Wisconsin, native is shooting a team-best 44% from deep and has six games with at least two 3-pointers.
Madison College will hit the road for its final two games before the holiday and semester break when they compete in the Gogebic Community College Classic on Friday, December 16 and Saturday, December 17 in Ironwood, Michigan. The WolfPack will take on a pair of
NJCAA Division II teams, starting with #1 South Suburban College (12-0) in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Saturday's challenge is against the host Samsons (5-5), who own a 20-17 lead in the all-time series and have won four of the last five matchups. Both games will begin at 4:00 p.m.
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