RIVER GROVE, ILL. - The first game of the North Central Community College Conference schedule for the Madison College men's basketball team ended with a 74-58 loss to the league's four-time defending champions, Triton College. The Trojans, ranked #7 in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll, ended the WolfPack's seven-game win streak and handed them a loss in the N4C opener for a second consecutive year.

An intense and physical game opened with a Madison College basket from freshman Sean Suchomel, however, it would be the only lead the WolfPack owned the entire night. Madison College pulled even on two occasions within three minute window, the last of which coming when sophomore Deshawn Black converted a jumper to make it 17-17 with six minutes left in the first half. A basket at the buzzer for Triton gave the home team a 33-26 lead at the break. Black led the 'Pack with nine points through the game's first 20 minutes.

The second half saw the Trojans (13-3, 1-0) extend their lead to as much as eight before the WolfPack clawed back to within 54-52 on freshman Nathaniel Buss' second consecutive three-pointer with 8:12 remaining. From that point on, Triton outscored the 'Pack by a 20-6 margin, highlighted by an 8-0 run, to earn the win. During that stretch, Madison College converted just three of the final 12 shot attempts and committed three turnovers.

Black finished with a team-high 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting and a 6-for-10 effort at the free throw line. The double-digit point total ends a stretch of eight straight games with fewer than ten points for the Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, native. Black also posted four rebounds, two assists, and a block.



Sophomore guard Tyree Young was the only other player to reach double-figures, scoring 13 points on an efficient 5-for-7 shooting. Young led the team with four assists and four steals, while also grabbing six boards. Suchomel topped the rebounding column with seven.

Interim head coach Bill Kegler introduced two new players to the roster following the semester break. Marcus Riser, a transfer from NCAA Division III UW-La Crosse and Racine, Wisconsin, native, posted eight points, while former Madison Memorial athlete Kye Burcham added six points in their WolfPack debuts.

Shooting-wise the two teams both finished at 40%, with Madison College making 22-of-55 compared to 26-of-63 for Triton College. The visitors struggled from outside the arc going 3-fo-13 (23.1%) and were 11-for-17 (64.7%) at the free throw line. The Trojans knocked down 6-of-17 (35.3%)  three-pointers and 18-of-24 (75%) free throws. The home team also held a 46-34 edge in total rebounds and an 18-6 margin in points off turnovers en route to their 16th consecutive win over the WolfPack, who are just 2-20 all-time against Triton.

Up Next:

Madison College (10-4, 0-1) hits the road again Saturday, January 6 for their second N4C matchup when they take on Joliet Junior College (13-4, 0-1). The Wolves are also coming off a loss in their league opener, falling 79-77 to #3-ranked Rock Valley College. The two teams split their season series a year ago with the home team winning each matchup, though JJC still controls the all-time series by a 21-5 margin. Tip off in Joliet, Illinois, is at 3:00 p.m.

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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