MADISON, WISC. - In what could turn out to be the toughest opponent the Madison College men's basketball team will see this season, the WolfPack was unable to keep up with NJCAA Division I Highland Community College. The 83-62 loss Saturday inside a near-capacity H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium marked the first setback of the season as the 'Pack wrapped up a season-opening two game homestand.

The visiting Cougars, a NJCAA Division I National Tournament qualifier last season, shot 55.6% (30-54) overall and made nearly half of their attempts from long range, going 6-for-13 (46.2%). Madison College struggled with the deep ball, converting only 4-of-21 (19%) attempts outside the arc as part of a 21-for-59 (35.6%) effort overall. In addition to the successful outside shooting, Highland (1-0) took full advantage of an interior size advantage and some WolfPack foul trouble to outscore the home team 44-28 in the paint.

After back-to-back Tyree Young jumpers cut the Madison College deficit to three at 33-30 with 4:36 remaining, the Cougars closed the half with 11 unanswered points to take a 44-30 lead into the break. The WolfPack was never able to return the differential to single digits during the second half en route to a sixth straight loss to the Cougars, who now own a 26-6 advantage in the all-time series.

Tyree Young was one of three players to score in double-figures for Madison College, as the sophomore paced the offensive attack with 13 points despite going 1-for-7 from the three-point line. Young was also one of four players to tie for the team lead with four rebounds.

Freshman Alex Easterday and sophomore Deshawn Black each posted ten points. Easterday, an Elkhorn, Wisconsin, native, was 4-for-7 overall and grabbed four rebounds. Sean Suchomel and Anthony Johnson were the other two players with four boards, while Suchomel added nine points after connecting on two of the team's four 3-pointers. Jezzriah Burton, Wednesday's leading scorer in the season opener, missed all five of his attempts from three-point territory.



Highland features five players from the state of Wisconsin, including three from the Madison area. Shareef Smith (Madison Memorial) and Rod Johnson, Jr. (Sun Prairie) combined for 15 points. Deang Deang (Madison East), last year's NJCAA Region IV Division I Tournament MVP, is currently out with an injury.

Up Next:

Madison College (1-1) returns to action this weekend with a two-game road trip to the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Tournament in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. On Friday, November 10, the WolfPack battle the host Rams (1-1) at 7:00 p.m. Anoka-Ramsey owns a slight 4-3 advantage in the all-time series, with all four wins coming over the five games played since 2012. Madison College will conclude tournament play Saturday, November 11, against St. Cloud (MN) Technical & Community College (0-0) at noon. The two teams played last year for the first time ever, a game the Cyclones won by a slim four-point margin.

Both games will be streamed live at MadisonCollege.TV, as well as via Facebook and YouTube.

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