MADISON, WISC. - With an opportunity to sweep the regular season series with national power Rock Valley College within their grasp, the Madison College men's basketball team let a slim second half lead slip away in a 95-87 loss to Rock Valley College in Redsten Gymnasium. Playing in front of a near capacity crowd for Sophomore Day and the 11th Annual Jam the Gym Alumni celebration, the WolfPack went toe-to-toe with the defending national champions and will settle for a second place tie with the Golden Eagles in the final North Central Community College Conference standings.

A very competitive start to the matchup saw Madison College (18-10, 10-4), who was still receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division III Poll, grab the first significant lead at 23-13 when freshman Tyree Young knocked down a three-pointer with ten minutes and 54 seconds remaining in the first half. Seventh-ranked Rock Valley College (22-8, 10-4) responded with an 18-3 run to secure a five-point edge. It remained at that differential as WolfPack went into halftime trailing 42-37.

The two teams traded baskets for the first six-plus minutes of the second half and assumed a 51-50 lead after Zach Adkins tied the score on the jumper and Shane Waldon knocked down a free throw. It would be the only advantage of the half for the 'Pack as the Golden Eagles 15 of the next 17 points to assume a 12-point lead. That run included ten straight points by Jace Kitchen on three 3-pointers and a free throw. Not going down without a fight, the WolfPack pulled to within two on a Deshawn Black layup with just over five minutes to play, however, RVC ended the game by making seven of its final eight shots and ten of 12 free throws to close out their 11th win in the last 13 games in the series.

Point guard Tyree Young led the Madison College attack with a career-high 24 points, surpassing the 23 points he scored three nights earlier against the College of DuPage. It was aided by another career high of five 3-pointers as part of a 9-for-19 effort shooting overall. The former Nicolet (WI) HS athlete also had four assists, four rebounds, one block, and a team-leading three steals. Fellow first year and Madison, Wisconsin, native Stavon Staples tallied 13 points off the bench, matching a career-best with four 3-pointers on five attempts. It was just his second double-digit scoring effor in the last nine games after surpassing ten points in six of the eight games prior to that. A third freshman, Paul Schmelzer III, registered 11 points, and led the team with seven rebounds and eight assists, setting a new career-high in helpers.


The trio of Zach Adkins, Joel O'Donnell, and Shane Waldon were honored prior to the game, which would be their final regular season home game. Adkins, a native of Fennimore, Wisconsin, was feeling his shot early with two quick three pointers en route to ten points, four rebounds, and four assists. O'Donnell and Waldon both struggled with four trouble and scored two and nine points, respectively, with seven combined rebounds.

Both team shot extremely well, finishing over 50-percent in overall and three-point attempts, and combining to make 25 shots from beyond the arc. Madison College converted at least half of its shots in 14 games this season and their 13 successful three-pointers fell one shy of tying a season-high. The difference in the game came at the free throw line, where RVC knocked down 17-of-24 compared to a 4-for-12 mark by the home team.

Madison College, which had won four straight before Saturday's loss, will begin postseason play on Wednesday when they host a NJCAA Region IV Division III Quarterfinal game against the College of DuPage (4-22). The sixth-seeded Chaparrals have dropped their last four contest, including a 92-65 game to the third-seeded WolfPack less than a week ago. Madison College swept the regular season series and have won three of the last four meetings, though they still trail by a 10-9 margin in the all-time series. Tip off is at 7:00 p.m. inside Redsten Gymnasium. The winner will advance to Saturday's Region IV Semifinals at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois, against the winner of second-seeded Elgin Community College and seventh-seeded Harper College.

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

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