SHEBOYGAN, WISC. - The season opener for the 2019 season brought an early test of endurance as the Madison College men's basketball team went to overtime to secure a 101-94 victory over Sheboygan on Saturday. The WolfPack trailed by as much as 22 points in the second half before hitting a late free throw to force the extra session, which the 'Pack opened with an 11-point run en route to a win that featured a career high in points from sophomore guard Davion Washington and a double-double by freshman Jason Williams. It's the sixth straight year in which Madison College has started the season with a win, and also improved their all-time series record to 5-0 against the Wombats, whom they handed played since 1989.

Midway through the first half, and with the WolfPack leading 14-10, Sheboygan (0-1) put together an 11-0 run to get out in front. The home team then closed the half with a 15-6 burst that gave the Wombats a 43-27 advantage at halftime. The deficit grew to 22 points five minutes into the second half with Sheboygan leading 56-34, however, that's when Madison College began to fight its way back. A big 13-1 push by the visitors cut the differential to five with six minutes remaining, but that was still the margin of separation as the clock went inside of 25-seconds to play. A pair of free throws by freshman Marcus Kartes set the stage for sophomore Shamar Newman to tie the game up with a three-point play with seven seconds left. The WolfPack needed just 90 seconds at the start of OT to grab a commanding lead and then held off a late push by Sheboygan for the win.

Madison College made 36 of 84 (42.9%) shot attempts with seven 3-pointers, while the Wombats were 32 of 81 (39.5%) with six makes from distance. With 60 combined personal fouls in the contest, the two teams also combined to shoot 73 free throws. The WolfPack connected on 22 of 36 (61.1%) and Sheboygan was 24 for 37 (64.9%). The 'Pack also controlled the glass with a 70-46 edge in rebounding that included 27 offensive rebounds.

Washington, a former Madison East High School athlete, surpassed his previous career-high of five points as a freshman with an impressive 29 on 11 of 17 shooting overall and 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. The 6'2" guard also knocked down all four of his free throw attempts, grabbed nine rebounds to fall one shy of his first-ever double-double, and led the team with three blocked shots and two steals.

Speaking of double-doubles, Williams, who hails from Evansville, Indiana, did just that in his first collegiate outing with 27 points and 11 rebounds. He converted 9 of 16 shots field goal attempts, including his only try from outside the arc, and was 8 for 14 at the charity stripe. The 6'5" power forward also led the team with four assists. 

Newman, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a transfer from NJCAA Division III Cental Lakes College (MN), added 15 points to round out the double-digit scorers for Madison College. 

Up Next: 

Madison College (1-0) returns to the floor on Tuesday, November 5 for the season's home opener against McHenry County College (0-2). The WolfPack and Scots had previously played in three straight season openers, all won by Madison College from 2016-2018. The lone MCC victory in the head-to-head series came in 1989. Tip off is schedule for 7:30 p.m., and will follow the season openers for the Madison College and McHenry County College women's basketball teams at 5:30 p.m.

All home Madison College men's basketball games can be streamed live at MadisonCollege.tv.

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