MADISON, WISC. - A flat shooting day created too big a hole for the Madison College men's basketball team to climb out of in Saturday's 61-47 loss to Harper College on Sophomore Day at Redsten Gym. The WolfPack extended their losing streak to a season-high five games, earning the number five seed in the NJCAA Region IV Tournament.

Playing the final home game of their careers, coach Scot Vesterdahl started five of his six sophomores against the visiting Hawks. The game played tight early, with the lead changing hands five times and the score being tied twice through the first 12 minutes. After a Cortez McCree jumper pulled Madison College (10-18, 4-10) within 20-16, the Hawks called a timeout to make an adjustment that drastically altered the course of the game. Harper College (11-19, 2-12) switched to a zone defense that sparked a 14-2 run. Forward Ethan Lurquin was able to knock down two shots in the final 68-seconds to close the half with the WolfPack down 34-23.

The second half provided no answers as Madison College went scoreless for the first ten minutes before another Lurquin bucket ended a 12-0 surge for Harper. Trailing by 22, the WolfPack rallied with a 16-3 run to get within ten points with three minutes remaining. It would be as close as the 'Pack would get as they converted just 16-of-52 (30.8%) shot attempts for the game and split the regular season series.

Sophomore Tyler Meier used four 3-pointers to net a team-high 16 points, his 13th game of the season with at least three makes from beyond the arc. The Monticello, Wisconsin, native is eight for his last 20 from distance. The only other player in double figures was Ethan Lurquin, who registered 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Three other WolfPack players scored in the game as Cortez McCree tallied eight as a reserve, and sophomores Kristian Zimmerman and Jake Andrews each finished with six points. Zimmerman dished out five assists, part of a 15 total on 16 made baskets for Madison College.

Prior to the start of the game, the program recognized the efforts and contributions of its six-member sophomore class.

"An excellent group of student-athletes, great teammates, and even better young men," Vesterdahl boasted about the class, which has posted a 30-29 record over two seasons. "They will be successful in the future because of their work ethic, integrity, and intelligence. We will miss them next year and wish them all the best."

The group also includes Malik Henderson, Malek Lemke, and Toby Andrews, none of which scored in the game, but played a combined 28 minutes.
 

Madison College now shifts its focus to the postseason, which begins Wednesday with a Region IV Tournament Quarterfinal matchup against the College of DuPage (17-11, 5-9). The fifth-seeded WolfPack will travel to Glen Ellyn, Illinois to take on the fourth-seeded Chaparrals. The teams split their regular season series each of the last two years, with the home team winning every game, and have never met in the postseason. Tip off is set for 7:00 p.m.