ESCANABA, MICH. - The Madison College men's basketball team has had no shortage of heart-pounding moments of late, a trend that carried into and through a win and a loss at the Bay College Classic on Friday and Saturday. The WolfPack, who needed double overtime to beat the University of Dubuque JV two days prior to traveling to the Upper Peninsula, won the opener Friday with an 82-80 OT decision over North Central Michigan College. The host Norse then closed out the event with a 73-69 win over the Pack on Saturday.

Game #1 (Friday): Madison College 82, North Central Michigan College 80 (OT)

Madison College needed a big second half to force overtime against one of the newest programs in NJCAA basketball, and they got exactly that and more to steal the win in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Sophomore Nik Feller tallied 13 of his game-high 24 in the second half, while freshman Peter Gustafson got hot for 15 of his career-high 17 points after halftime. 

The WolfPack built an early 8-2 lead thanks to five early points from Feller, but a quick 9-0 burst by the Timberwolves overpowered Madison College and sent NCMC on to a 13-point edge at 34-21 with just over two minutes left in the half. Freshman Jackson Slayton and sophomore Keith Hoffman each hit a three-pointer before the half ended to trim the deficit to seven.

Those six points ignited a bigger 14-0 run that gave Madison College the lead less than three minutes into the second half. The Timberwolves eventually reclaimed 47-39 advantage, however, the Pack answered and pulled even at 52-52. Another scoring swing put NCMC ahead by nine at the six minute mark. And as the game moved into the final minute, Madison College had narrowed the gap to one and tied the game contest on a Gustafson free throw with 43 second remaining. Neither team scored after that and the game went to overtime even at 72-72.

In the extra session, Hoffman notched seven of the team's ten points, including a jumper with 19 seconds to play to give Madison College the lead for good at 81-80. Cortez Telfered added a free throw in the final seconds.

Feller, a Poynette, Wisconsin, native, set a new career-high with his 24 points, making four 3-pointers for the fifth time in his career. He finished with a 7 for 10 effort overall and added a 6 for 8 performance at the free throw line. He added a career-best nine rebounds.

Gustafson, a guard/forward from Monticello, Wisconsin, netted his season-high 17 with a 6 for 12 shooting day and a 5 for 6 tally at the free throw line. He added a team-high 12 rebounds for his first-ever double-double, and led the team with a pair of blocks. Hoffman was right behind with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Game #2 (Saturday): Bay College 73, Madison College 69

The weekend's final game saw the Norse race out to a 17-4 lead over the game's first six minutes, and an 8-0 run to close the half put the differential at 43-27 in favor of Bay College. Still trailing by 14 with a little more than three minutes to play, the WolfPack dug deep and used a Nik Feller triple to start a ten-point surge and pull within 68-64. Another Feller three-pointer with 12 seconds to play made it a one-possession game at 72-69, but the Norse pushed it to four with a free throw as the game came to a close.

Madison College registered a 38-26 lead in points in the paint, and a 16-8 advantage in second chance points thanks to 13 offensive rebounds. 

Four players scored in double-figures, led by 17 points each for Feller and Keith Hoffman. Feller buried a trio of three-pointers and six free throws, to go along with three rebounds and three assists. Hoffman produced his third double-double of the season with 17 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. He was 8 of 19 from the field with one 3-pointer, and came away with a team-leading three steals.

Freshman guard/forward Deante Luster came of the bench to record a career-best 11 points and seven rebounds, making 5 of 10 shots and a free throw for the native of Columbia, South Carolina. Sophomore Telin Porter added ten points and five rebounds.

Madison College is now 1-1 all-time against Bay College. 

Up Next:

Madison College (3-3) is back home for a pair of weeknight games this week, starting with a Tuesday, November 15 matchup with the College of Lake County (4-1). The WolfPack defeated the Lancers on the road last year to earn their first head-to-head win after six consecutive losses dating back to 1979. Tip off inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium is set for 7:30 p.m. and can be streamed live at MadisonCollege.tv.

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