MADISON, WISC. - As tough a task as you can find in NJCAA basketball, and the Madison College men's basketball team nearly pulled it off Saturday as it tried to follow Wednesday's upset win over #3 Rock Valley College with another victory over a top-ranked team. The WolfPack fell just short in a 69-62 setback to Triton College, ranked #4 in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll, as it played in front of alumni in attendance for the 12th Annual Jam the Gym event.

A fast 17-5 start gave Madison College the upper hand early after Alex Easterday, Nathaniel Buss, and Tyree Young each hit three-pointers. However, that advantage nearly washed away when the Trojans (20-3, 8-0) closed the half with a 19-8 run that left the home team with a one-point edge at the break, 25-24.

The score remained within a possession as the two teams traded ties and lead changes for the first seven-plus minutes until sophomore Jezzriah Burton, playing in just the second game since being injured in the N4C opener in River Grove, Illinois, on January 3, buried a corner trey to make it a 40-36 advantage. Two Trojan triples later and the visitors were on top for the next six minutes. Young knocked down a jumper that gave the 'Pack a one-point lead with four minutes to play, and a Young free throw evened the score 90 seconds later. The four-time defending conference champs went on to outscore the WolfPack 12-5, hitting their final five shots, to close out the contest. 

Easterday and Young were the lone double-digit scorers for the WolfPack, netting 20 and 15 points, respectively. Easterday, a 6'3" guard/forward, hit half of his shots from three-point territory to reach his fifth career 20-plus-point game and extend a streak of double-figure scoring outputs to a season-best four games. He also reeled in six rebounds.

Young's point total was the result of a 6 for 11 effort with a pair of three-pointers. The sophomore dished out a team-leading seven assists, marking his 11th game with at least five. Eight of those performances came in the last 13 outings.

Deshawn Black secured a team-best eight rebounds, but struggled to a 1 for 8 shooting day to reach three points. He and fellow forward Marcus Riser struggled with foul trouble and often left the 'Pack without a single player on the floor over the height of 6'3".

As a team, Madison College made just 5 of 12 (41.7%) free throws, while Triton College went 16 for 21 (76.2%). The loss also came despite seven fewer turnovers and a 16-9 edge in points off turnovers.

The WolfPack is now 2-21 all-time against the Trojans, and winless in a dozen gatherings in Madison. Triton College has won 17 straight in the series.

Up Next:

Madison College (13-8, 3-5) plays the fourth and final game of a challenging homestand on Wednesday, January 31 against Joliet Junior College (19-5, 6-2). The Wolves dominated the 'Pack by a 85-56 final in their first meeting this season, giving JJC a 22-5 lead in the all-time series.

The game will be streamed live at MadisonCollege.TV, as well as via the Madison College Athletics Facebook and YouTube pages.

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