MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College men's basketball team experience two extended droughts in the second half, resulting in a 69-47 home loss to #1-ranked Rock Valley College (NJCAA Division III) during Saturday's Jam the Gym Alumni Weekend celebration at Redsten Gym. The loss ends a three-game win streak that matched a season-long stretch from early January.

The second half began with Madison College (10-14, 4-6) within two possessions, a deficit that was trimmed to 34-31 after a Cortez McCree basket 90 seconds in. The WolfPack would not convert another field goal try until McCree's layup out of a timeout with 14:10 remaining to end a 9-2 Golden Eagles run. Sensing blood in the water, Rock Valley (24-2, 8-2) put the WolfPack away by creating an even longer field goal drought that lasted roughly nine minutes and thirty seconds. First-year foward Ethan Lurquin sandwiched five free throws between baskets at the 13:06 mark and with 3:43 to play as the visitors pulled away to lead by as much as 25 in the final minutes.

Madison College played toe-to-toe with the Golden Eagles through the first half, holding a 12-9 advantage as late as six minutes into the game. The 'Pack were out-done on the glass 34-26 by the much taller RVC squad, which converted nine offensive boards into 11 second chance points. A total of 14 turnovers by the home team also lead to 21 more points against the 'Pack.

Rock Valley converted half of their shot attempts, going 25-for-49 with nine 3-pointers compared to a 16-of-44 day with six makes from distance for the WolfPack.

Ethan Lurquin tallied a team-high 17 points, 11 of which came in the second half. Madison native Cortez McCree registered his first career double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds. The first year guard was 6-for-9 from the floor to reach his fourth-consecutive double-digit scoring total, and also had two blocks and one steal in 38 minutes. Kristian Zimmerman added eight points off the bench.

The game opened a second brutal stretch of North Central Community College Conference games for the WolfPack this season after dropping four straight last month, three of which were to ranked foes. Ahead for Madison College is a road game at #7 Milwaukee Area Technical College and a home date against Joliet Junior College, which is currently receiving votes.
 

Prior to that is a second consecutive game against a top-ranked team on Wednesday at #1 Triton College (NJCAA Division II). Madison College has lost 12 straight games against the Trojans (24-2, 10-0), including a 67-60 affair January 16 despite a double-digit lead late in the second half. Madison College is 2-16 all time against Triton, with both wins coming in River Grove, Illinois. The most recent was in the 2009-10 season. Tip off is set for 7:00 p.m.