ESCANABA, MICH. & IRONWOOD, MICH. - The Madison College men's basketball ended the 2021 portion of their schedule riding a three-game win streak, and after a pair of wins on a weekend trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, they now boast a season-high five game streak. The WolfPack opened the excursion with an overtime 82-76 victory at Bay College on Friday, and followed with a 62-51 decision at Gogebic Community College on Saturday. 

Game #1 (Friday): Madison College 82, Bay College 76 (OT)

In the first-ever meeting with the Division II Norse, Madison College fell behind 6-0 to start the game, but rebounded with a 10-3 run to take their first lead of the game. The WolfPack continued to push ahead en route to an eight point lead when newcomer Cortez Telfered's bucket in the paint to cap a 12-3 surge. Bay College returned the favor and scored 16 of the next 23 points to regain a one-point lead in the final minute. Freshman Keith Hoffman buried a three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining and sent the 'Pack to a 32-30 halftime advantage.

The visitors came out firing to start the second half, opening the game's first double-digit lead with an 11-3 start. The differential maxed out at 11 points before the Norse (11-3) began to chip away and pulled within a single point with just over eight minutes remaining. As the clock went under six minutes, the teams began trading leads, a trend that held to the end of regulation when Bay College answered a Malcolm Reed layup with one of their own to even the score at 70-70. Hoffman attempted a game-winning three, but came up empty. The second OT game of the season for Madison College turned on a nine-point run for the visitors that featured five consecutive points from Hoffman.

Hoffman, a native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, posted his straight double-double with a career-best 28 points, including 20 in the second half and overtime combined, and 11 rebounds. The 6'8" forward knocked down 4 of 9 three-point tries as part of a 10 for 16 effort overall. Hoffman was also 4 for 4 at the free throw line.

Arrion Curothers and Trevon Liggins also scored in double-figures, with Curothers contributing 12 points and Liggins with ten. Curothers, an Indianapolis, Indiana, native, generated half of his points at the charity stripe. Liggins, who attended Cleveland State University in Ohio before coming to Madison College, was tops on the team with five assists and two steals.

Madison College shot 48.4% (30-62) for the game to match their second-best percentage of the season. Bay College held narrow advantages in points off turnovers, second chance points, points in the paint, and bench points.

Game #2 (Saturday): Madison College 62, Gogebic Community College 51

Madison College established itself early the next day, taking a 28-16 lead in the first half. They were able to maintain the double-digit lead throughout most of the second half against the Samsons, who won the second half by a 35-34 margin.

The WolfPack received a major boost from it's bench, which outscored the Gogebic reserves by a 34-0 tally. Cortez Telfered, who was added to the roster at the semester break, led that charge with a career-best 19 points off the bench. The freshman guard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, drained 4 of 6 three-pointers and was 6 of 9 from the floor, to go along with a trio of free throws.

Keith Hoffman added 11 points as the only other player in double-figures. He finished 3 for 7 on the day and was 5 for 7 at the free throw line. The forward also snagged a team-leading seven rebounds, and tied for team-high honors with two blocks and two steals.

The win narrows the all-time series to a single-game differential, with Gogebic leading 20-19.

Up Next:

Madison College (11-4) remains on the road for an in-state showdown with Region 4 foe Bryant & Stratton College (8-10) on Tuesday, January 11. In three prior meetings, the WolfPack is 2-1 against the Bobcats, with each game being decided by three-points or less. Tip off at Mount Mary University's Bloechl Recreation Center is at 7:30 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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