UPDATE - 3/10/17 11:00AM:

Nearly two weeks after season officially ended, the Madison College men's basketball team was awarded yet another forfeit win from the Gogebic Community College Classic. The host Samson played an ineligible player in a victory of the WolfPack, and the NJCAA has awarded Madison College a 2-0 win. The statistics from the game will remain as they were, and only the game's final team result will change. The win also pushes the WolfPack to a 20-10 final record under first year head coach Bill Kegler, giving Madison College it's second 20-win season in the last eight years, one loss fewer than the final record of the 2014-15 season.

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UPDATE - 1/18/17 11:03AM:

On January 17, 2017, the NJCAA deemed that South Suburban College had used an ineligible player in defeating Madison College, therefore, awarding the WolfPack a 2-0 win by forfeit. The statistics from the game will remain as they were, and only the game's final team result will change. 

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IRONWOOD, MICH. - Matching up against two NJCAA Division II opponents, including the top-ranked team in the nation, the Madison College men's basketball team fell just short of picking up two key wins at the Gogebic Community College Classic over the weekend. The WolfPack's attempt at a rally against #1 South Suburban came up six points shy in a 75-69 setback on Friday, and was followed by an 83-78 loss Saturday to the host Samsons. The two losses will send the 'Pack into the semester break with a 6-7 record.

Game #1: #1 South Suburban College 75, Madison College 69

Trailing by a dozen points coming out of the halftime break, Madison College dug in deep to mount a spirited rally against the No. 1 team in the lastest NJCAA DII Poll. That rally was an 8-2 burst in the first two minutes of the second half to cut the deficit in half. However, it would mark the first of six times the WolfPack trailed by as little as six, only to have South Suburban College (13-0) have an answer each time. 

Madison College outscored the Bulldogs by a 45-39 margin over the final 20 minutes despite a sizable disadvantage in several team categories. SCC was better than the 'Pack in points off turnovers (25-16), second chance points (16-4), bench points (33-16), points in the paint (44-26), and turnovers (19-26). The Bulldogs also shot better from the field by 11 percentage points, though Madison College finished better behind the arc and at the free throw line. The WolfPack was 6-for-16 (37%) from three-point territory and an impressive 19-23 (82%) at the stripe.

Four freshmen finished in double-figure scoring for Madison College, led by Jezzriah Burton. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native took advantage of an 8-for-8 day at the free throw line to score 17 points while also dealing out three assists. Burton has scored in double digits in three straight games - and six games overall - finishing as the team's top scorer on three occasions.

Paul Schmelzer III knocked down 3-of-6 attempts from beyond the three-point line en route to 15 points. Stavon Staples had 13 points off the bench and starting point guard Tyree Young registered 12 points. Young matched Burton for the team lead with three assists. Sophomore forward Joel O'Donnell reeled in seven rebounds to pace the WolfPack on the glass.

Friday's game was the first all-time between the two programs.

Game #2: Gogebic Community College 83, Madison College 78

Against the host school on Saturday, Madison College again found themselves down at the half, this time by just six points at 41-35. After halftime the deficit fell to as much as 13 when a Gogebic (8-5) three-pointer made it 61-48 with 12:13 to play. The WolfPack countered with a 14-1 run to tie the game at 62 on a Stavon Staple triple at the 6:41 mark. The Samsons surged right back with successful three-pointers in three consecutive possessions as they eventually returned to a ten-point edge late in the game.

One last gasp for Madison College brought the score to within 77-74 in the final minute, but GCC converted 6-of-8 free throws in the final 36-seconds to put the WolfPack away. For the game, the visitors shot 42% (29-69) with seven 3-pointers and a 13-for-16 effort on the free throw line. The Samsons hit 11 times from distance and made five more free throws.

For the third time this season, freshman Tyree Young led Madison College in scoring, this time with 14 points. The former Nicolet (WI) HS athlete now has seven games of ten or more points in the last nine played. In addition to scoring, Young had a team-best six assists, his seventh game with at least five total.

Paul Schmelzer III and Deshawn Black each had 13 points, with Black also pulling in a dozen rebounds for his first career double-double. Of his 12 boards, seven came on the offensive end, part of 18 team offensive rebounds that led to 21 second chance points. The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, native also had a pair of blocks at the defensive end.

Stavon Staples had his sixth double-digit scoring effort in the last eight games with 12 points, all scored from outside the arc as he tied a career-high with four 3-pointers.

Madison College played the entire weekend without it's top scorer and inside presence, Shane Waldon.

Upcoming for the WolfPack is a two week break for the semester and holidays before the schedule resumes in 2017 with the North Central Community College Conference opener against #6 Triton College. The defending national runners-up are 17-2 all-time against Madison College and currently riding a 13-game win streak in the series. The WolfPack last beat the Trojans in January 2010. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in River Grove, Illinois.

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