MADISON, WISC. - With the exception of roughly one minute and ten seconds of game time, the Madison College men's basketball team played with the lead from the opening tip through the final horn in a 63-58 home defeat of the College of DuPage at Redsten Gym Wednesday. In a season of streaks, the WolfPack have rebounded from a difficult four-game losing stretch - three of which came against ranked opponents - to win three straight and carry momentum into a rematch with #1-ranked Rock Valley College.

The first half played extremely tight, with Madison College (10-13, 4-5) using s brief 6-0 run to grab it's largest lead of the half at 12-5. The Chaparrals (15-8, 3-6) battled back to claim their only advantage of the game at 19-18 with 2:10 remaining in the half, but the 'Pack answered to take a 22-21 edge into the locker room.

Tied at 26 early in the second, Madison College again found the right combination in an 8-0 run and eventually led by ten on two separate occasions. It was enough to avenge a heartbreaking loss in the final seconds against the Chaparrals in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, on January 9. Unlike the first go-round, the WolfPack were able to hang on to a double-digit, second-half lead.

Both teams struggled to find the basket with the home team fairing slightly better overall at 38% compared to 33%. The WolfPack did cash in at the free throw line by knocking down 27-of-33 attempts to finish plus-16 in the free throw category. Madison College also hit the glass hard, owning a 45-30 advantage on the boards.

First-year forward Ethan Lurquin was the game's top scorer at 16 points, seven of which came from his eight tries at the charity stripe. Lurquin was also one of three 'Pack members to haul in a team-leading seven rebounds, matching the efforts of Cortez McCree and Tyler Meier. McCree added 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting overall and 6-for-7 at the line. The Madison native has scored in double-figures in three straight games and 13 times this season. Markus Tobias finished with 11 points, his third 10-plus-point outing in the last five games.

Riding their second three-game win streak of the season, coach Scot Vesterdahl and the WolfPack will get a second chance at upsetting the NJCAA's top-ranked team in Division III when Rock Valley College (23-2, 7-2) comes to Madison Saturday. Madison College has not won against the Golden Eagles since January 23, 2013, and have not defeated RVC in Madison since the 2010-11 campaign. The 'Pack has dropped seven straight overall after an 89-77 setback last month in Rockford, Illinois, as well as four consecutive at Redsten Gym. 

The game is the finale of a basketball-filled 10th Annual Jam the Gym Alumni Weekend celebration that includes alumni games starting at 10:00 a.m. and a Top-5 showdown between the school's two women's programs. Tip off is at 3:00 p.m.