UPDATE: Freshman
Adam Anhold was named to the 2019 Region IV Division III All-Tournament Team following the championship game on Monday night.
-------------------
PALATINE, ILL. - Despite 32 points from
Adam Anhold, the Madison College men's basketball team was eliminated from the 2019 NJCAA Region IV Division III Tournament on Saturday with a 90-79 loss to Elgin Community College in the semifinals held at Harper College. The third-seeded WolfPack were outscored 28-18 over the final ten minutes by the second-seeded Spartans, who move on to play in the Region IV title game against top-seeded Rock Valley College. The 'Pack finish the year 14-13 overall and with their third consecutive loss in a Region IV semifinal.
Madison College opened the game with an impressive 13-5 run and maintained the lead until a Spartans dunk tied the game at 18-18 nearly halfway through the first half. The teams traded leads and ties over the next five minutes, but Elgin Community College (25-6) used a 12-0 run to take the game's first double-digit lead. The 'Pack answered by scoring nine of the 11 points to go into halftime down 40-36. In the second half, a 10-2 surge by Madison College once again evened the score at 46-all in the first five minutes, and when
Alex Easterday drained one of his two three-pointers with just over 11 minutes left, the score sat at 62-61 in favor of Elgin. From that point on Spartans outscored the WolfPack by a 28-18 margin that began with an 8-0 burst.
Anhold, a native of Janesville, Wisconsin, and a transfer from NCAA Division II Bemidji State University (MN), made 15 of 20 shots from the floor with one 3-pointer and one free throw. The impressive output is second-highest total of the season behind a 35-point game against RVC on January 5, and marks his 11th game with 20 more points this season, which also includes a 23-point effort on December 1 at Elgin CC. The 6'8" forward also reeled in a team-high nine rebounds and blocked a pair of shots. He finishes the season with averages of 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks over 26 games.
Sophomore
Sean Suchomel dropped in 15 points on 7 of 14 shooting with one free throw. The guard from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, also had five boards and two assists to reach season averages of 10.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.6 steals.
Also in double-figures was fellow second year guard/forward
Alex Easterday with ten points. The Elkhorn, Wisconsin, product converted 3 of 7 shots with two makes from long range and a pair of successful free throws. Easterday added five rebounds and an assist, and wraps up the season at 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Only three other players scored for Madison College, as
Jalen Addison contributed eight points, followed by seven points each from
Nathaniel Buss and
Mark Simmons. Addison and Buss each surpassed ten points a game for their season averages, sitting at 15.6 and 12.9 points, respectively. Buss was also second on team in assists at 3.1 a game, and Addison was tops in steals at 1.6.
Both teams made 33 field goals and shot 45%, however, the Spartans made 11 three-pointers on 39% shooting from long range, while the WolfPack was just 5 for 21 for 23%. Elgin also made and attempted five additional free throws. Elgin owned a 10-4 lead in fast break points and a 16-7 lead in bench scoring, while Madison College was 18 points better (52-34) in the paint and plus three (18-15) in points off turnovers. Despite trailining 47-37 on the glass, the 'Pack still posted a 17-12 edge in second chance points. The game featured seven lead changes and five ties.
Elgin now leads the all-time series by a 6-2 margin, including a pair of postseason wins and two wins in the 2018-19 season. The Spartans advance to play top-seeded Rock Valley College after the Golden Eagles downed #4-seed Joliet Junior College 94-67 on Saturday. The championship game will be played Monday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m. after being delayed due to a power outage on Sunday. The Region IV All-Tournament Team will be announced following the game.
2019 NJCAA Region IV Division III Men's Basketball Tournament
Follow WolfPack men's basketball:
Facebook |
Twitter
