ROCKFORD, ILL. - Saturday's North Central Community College Conference battle between the Madison College men's basketball team and Rock Valley College required two overtime periods before settling on a winner in a 95-88 victory for RVC. Sophomore Adam Anhold poured in a career-best 35 points to become the third player this season to surpass the 30-point plateau in a game. The WolfPack have now dropped three straight contests to the Golden Eagles, who have won 14 of the last 17 meetings and own a 31-16 edge in the all-time series.

Rock Valley College (12-2, 2-0) raced out to a 15-5 lead, which the WolfPack followed with 19-9 surge to even the score with eight minutes remaining in the first half. The two teams played evenly the rest of the half and went into the break tied at 39. In a game that was loaded with ties (14) and lead changes (17), the second half alone featured nine lead changes and six ties. Madison College took its biggest lead of the day seven minutes into the half with Anhold sank a free throw for a 53-49 advantage. More than ten minutes later, Anhold hit two more free throws to again take a four-point edge at 68-64. After RVC scored four straight to tie the game, the 6'8" transfer scored his final basket from in the lane to hand the visitors a 70-68 lead with 1:09 remaining. It would not hold up as the Golden Eagles' Nana Kodom-Ayensu sank the tying jumper with 15 seconds to play, and when sophomore Jalen Addison's potential game-winning three-pointer missed, the game was headed to overtime. 

The WolfPack took control of the overtime session by scoring the first five points, which the home team quickly answered. After trading baskets, Addison knocked down one of two free throws to give the 'Pack a 78-76 lead in the final 20 seconds, however, Kodom-Ayensu came through with his second clutch shot of the day, beating the buzzer to force a second OT. Rock Valley put together three separate five-point runs in the second overtime to eventually outlast the WolfPack.

Anhold, a native of Janesville, Wisconsin, registered the 12th best single-game points total in program history and the highest scoring game of the year as he went 11 for 18 from the floor with one 3-pointer and added a 12 for 17 effort at the free throw line. His sixth game of 20 or more points in the last seven outings came as part of his fourth double-double after he snared ten rebounds.

Addison, who hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, added 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Also in double figures was sophomores Nathaniel Buss and Alex Easterday, who both hit a pair of three-pointers en route to ten points. Second year guard Sean Suchomel contributed nine points, but led the team with career-high 13 rebounds, while also leading the way with five assists.

As a team, the WolfPack shot 36% as they knocked down 28 of 77 total attempts. A 7 for 26 (27%) effort outside the arc snaps a run of two straight games with ten or more made 3's and is the team's first sub-.300 long range shooting performance since December 1. Rock Valley finished 33 for 70 (47%) from the field and 11 of 25 (44%) from distance. The teams combined for 51 personal fouls and 67 free throws in the extended game, with the visitors hitting 25 of 34 (73%) and the home team making 18 of 33 (54%).  The Golden Eagles were plus-13 in total rebounds and five better in second chance points, while the 'Pack controlled a 26-15 edge in points off turnovers

Up Next:

Madison College (7-7, 1-1) returns home for a pair of games in the upcoming week, starting with a showdown against Harper College (1-15) on Wednesday, January 9. The Hawks have taken 13 consecutive losses since their lone win and lost their first two N4C games by an average of 57.5 points. The teams split their regular season series last season, and the WolfPack controls a narrow 12-10 lead in the all-time series. Game time is at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday's game is also Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night at H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. 

Follow WolfPack men's basketball: Facebook | Twitter