LA CROSSE, WISC. - A fast start to Wednesday night's rivalry matchup with Western Technical College led to a big halftime lead that keyed an 87-80 road win for the Madison College men's basketball team. The team's second straight victory also marks the sixth consecutive in the head-to-head series with the Cavaliers, and gives the WolfPack an all-time lead of 68-33.

Madison College took control of the game early with a 15-1 run after the Cavaliers scored the game's first basket. The 'Pack held a double-digit advantage for most of the half, which ended with the visitors scoring 13 of the final 18 points to take a 41-21 lead into the halftime locker room. The differential was the largest halftime lead this season for Madison College. A more competitive second half saw Western Technical College (1-4) make one final push as they trailed 86-68 with less than two-and-a-half minutes remaining and go on an 11-0 surge to pull within seven points as the game moved into the final minute. Both teams were only able to add a free throw from that point on as the WolfPack held off the Cavaliers. 

Sophomore Shamar Newman led all players in scoring with 18 points on 9 of 11 shooting from the field. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native owns five double-digit scoring efforts this season, including two in back-to-back games. Newman also had four rebounds, one assist, and a team-high three steals.

First year guard Dayton Coleman, who was coming off a career-best 15-point game, converted 6 of 16 shots and 1 of 5 three-pointers for 13 points. The product of Champaign, Illinois, also came off the bench to register a season-high-tying eight rebounds, three assists, and one block. 

Forward Jason Williams, fresh off his third double-double of the season, narrowly missed his fourth as he finished with 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds. The freshman from Evansville, Indians, sank 4 of 11 shots overall and 1 of 2 from beyond the arc, while also knocking down 3 of 5 free throws. Williams also matched sophomore guard Davion Washington for team-high honors with four assists, and picked up one blocked shot.

Madison College hustled to a 60-41 advantage in rebounding, which led to a 23-6 edge in second chance scoring and contributed to a 48-28 lead in points in the paint. The Cavaliers, who turned the ball over six fewer times than the 'Pack, owned an 18-11 differential in points off turnovers. The WolfPack was 45% (37-82) overall, 20% (5-25) outside the arc, and 53.3% (8-15) at the stripe.

Up Next:

Madison College (6-6) returns home on Saturday, December 7 for a matchup with NJCAA Division II Kishwaukee College (3-5). While the WolfPack have won the last four meetings, the Kougars own a 16-6 advantage in the all-time series going back to 1980. Game time is at 3:00 p.m. inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. 

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