MILWAUKEE, WISC. - Facing the #2 team in the NJCAA Division II Poll in Saturday's regular season finale, the Madison College men's basketball team nearly overcame a double-digit halftime deficit as their rally fell short in a 100-84 loss at rival Milwaukee Area Technical College in a North Central Community College Conference battle. Sophomore Shamar Newman poured in a career-high 28 points, but it was not enough to end the WolfPack's now four-game losing streak that ends the regular season and gives the 'Pack a 12-15 record overall and a 5-9 mark in the N4C. The Stormers have swept back-to-back regular season series, while Madison College still owns the all-time lead at 64-52.

Sophomore Earl Lewis knocked down a three-pointer nearly four minutes into the game to give Madison College an 8-7 lead, and it would prove to be their only lead of the game. Milwaukee Area Technical College (27-1, 13-0) answered with a 14-2 run to grab their first double-digit advantage. Newman went on a personal 6-0 surge as the clock approached eight minutes left in the half and put the WolfPack within six at 29-23. The Stormers slowly pushed back and maxed their lead at 19 before taking a 49-32 margin into the half. The Madison College deficit grew to 30 early in the second half and stood at 92-60 with 6:30 to play when the visitors put forth one final comeback effort. Sophomore Davion Washington buried a triple to ignite an 18-0 burst to pull within 14 with a little over two minutes to play. It would be too little, too late for the 'Pack as MATC-Milwaukee closed the game scoring eight of the final 16 points.

Newman, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, finished an efficient 11 of 15 from the floor and made 6 of 9 free throws to earn his career-best scoring output, and his 16th game in double-figures this season. The 6'3" forward/guard also had three rebounds and one assist.

Lewis made two of his four shots from beyond the arc and added two free throws to net a dozen points. The former Madison East High School athlete boasts 15 games with ten or more points. Lewis, a guard, also yanked down seven rebounds to match forward Jason Williams for the team lead, to go along with three steals and three assists.

Aside from the seven boards, Williams added 11 points on 4 of 11 shooting and made 3 of 4 free throws. The Evansville, Indiana, native owns 20 games with at least ten points.

Freshman and Milwaukee-native Marcus Kartes also went for ten points, hitting at least two 3-pointers for the 18th time in 2019-20. He currently ranks sixth in all of Region IV with a three-point field goal percentage of 45.2%.

Milwaukee Area Technical College turned a 55-34 advantage in rebounds into a 16-4 edge in second chance points. They owned a narrow 44-38 margin in points in the paint, while the WolfPack was one-point better in points off turnovers (29-28).

Up Next:

On Sunday, Madison College (12-15, 5-9) learned it would be the #3 seed in the upcoming 2019-20 NJCAA Region IV Division III Tournament. With only five teams, the WolfPack were awarded a bye past the quarterfinal round and into the semifinals, where they will face #2 seed Joliet Junior College. The two teams split their regular season series with each winning on their home floor, and despite wins in three of the past four encounters for the 'Pack, the Wolves boast a 25-7 tally in the all-time count. This will mark the second postseason matchup between the two programs, with JJC claiming victory in the only prior matchup in 2010-11. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 22 at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with the winner to move on Sunday's championship game.



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