MADISON, WISC. - Facing an opportunity to share the top spot in the North Central Community College Conference standings, the Madison College men's basketball team suffered yet another close setback to league leading and #3-ranked (NJCAA Division II) Triton College by a 70-67 final Saturday at H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. The WolfPack, who were receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division III Poll, and Trojans experienced six ties and six lead changes before the road team eventually gained control of the game and the standings, now sitting two games better. The loss also marked the 15th consecutive in the head-to-head series, which Triton has dominated to a 19-2 advantage.

The game's advantage jumped back-and-forth throughout the first half, as the two teams traded punches. Down by as much as five in the first five minutes, Madison College (14-8, 6-2) regained the lead at the 10:43 mark as Tyree Young made it 17-16. Free throws by Deshawn Black and Shane Waldon over the next two minutes gave the 'Pack a one-point advantages. Young would hit two more layups, each time regaining the lead for the home team. The first made it 26-25 with six minutes and 46 seconds to play, and the second was with four minutes and 26 seconds left in the half to hand Madison College a 30-28 differential. Unfortunately, that would be the last time the WolfPack would own a lead in the game.

Triton College (22-1, 8-0) finished the half on an 11-2 run and took a 39-32 lead into the locker room. The Trojans' lead hovered between two and nine points throughout the entire second half before the WolfPack put forth one last valiant effort in the final minute. A Waldon jumper and two Young free throws cut the deficit to 68-67 with less than 30 seconds to play. After a missed free throw attempt on the front end of a one-and-one situation by Triton, Madison College had a chance to steal the lead, and possibly another upset win; however, sophomore Zach Adkins three point try inside of ten seconds left to play. The Trojans converted a pair of free throws to go up 70-67, but left enough time for a game-tying try. The WolfPack turned to freshman Paul Schmelzer III, who got off hurried look from the top of the key that missed to the right of the rim.

Tyree Young paced the WolfPack with 20 points, marking the fifth time this season the freshman has been the top scorer. The former Nicolet (WI) HS athlete used an 8-for-15 effort overall with two 3-pointers to extend his streak of double-digit scoring games to 11 straight. He also finished with five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.

Sophomore Shane Waldon registered 18 points and a team-leading eight rebounds, pushing his own streak of games with ten or more points to ten consecutive. Paul Schmelzer III made three shots from long distance en route to 11 points, while also leading the WolfPack with four assists.

Madison College outrebounded Triton College by a 40-33 margin, and turned 14 offensive rebounds into a 16-10 edge in second chance points. The Trojans had the upper hand in points off turnovers (16-8), points in the paint (40-24), and bench points (24-15). The shooting comparison was fairly close, with the defending conference champs finishing four percentage points better (45-41) from the field. Both teams were 10-of-14 at the free throw line, while the 'Pack connected on one more shot outside the arc on ten more attempts.

A four-game road trip will begin Wednesday, January 1 for Madison College when they visit Joliet Junior College (17-7, 3-5) and play for their first season sweep of the Wolves since the two became conference opponents in 2009-10. The WolfPack, 81-58 winners back in early January, have won two of the past five meetings, but are just 5-10 all-time. Tip off is set for 7:00 p.m. in Joliet, Illinois.

The game will be broadcast live on MadisonCollege.TV and via the Madison College Athletics Facebook page.

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