ROCKFORD, ILL. - The Madison College men's basketball team nearly made a return trip to the championship match the annual NJCAA Region 4 Division III Men's Basketball Tournament, however, #2-seeded Rock Valley College outlasted the #3-seeded WolfPack by a 93-86 final in overtime of Friday's semifinal contest. Freshman Keith Hoffman drilled a game-tying three-pointer at the end of regulation en route to a team-high 22 points. The loss marks the fourth semifinal setback in the past six years (No tournament in 2021.) and closes the 2021-22 season for the 'Pack with a 16-11 record. The 16 wins are the most under head coach Jamal Palmer, and extend a streak of double-digit win totals to seven seasons.

The host Golden Eagles sprinted out the gates with a 12-2 run and eventually led by as much as 14 in a fairly low-scoring first half that ended with a 36-27 differential. Madison College turned the game around with a 53-point second half, which opened with a 15-6 surge that tied the score at 42-42 four minutes into the half. Back-to-back Nik Feller three-pointers gave the WolfPack their first lead of the game and stretch it to four points. Five minutes later, Hoffman buried three 3's in four possessions as the 'Pack used 11 unanswered points to assume an eight-point lead with nine minutes to play. Five baskets later and RVC had pulled even at 70. As the game moved inside of a minute remaining, the Golden Eagles took an 80-77 lead thanks to four free throws, however, Hoffman capped his impressive long-range shooting day with a buzzer-beating bomb to force overtime. The first three minutes of the extra session saw two ties and five lead changes, with a RVC free throw making it 86-86 with 2:05 to play. The free throw ignited an 8-0 closing run for the home team as the 'Pack missed their final three shot attempts.

Hoffman drilled five 3-pointers for their third time this season, and finished 7 of 17 overall with three free throws. The 6'8" forward from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half, and also tallied five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. He finishes the season leading the team with averages of 15.5 points and 9.0 rebounds. 

Sophomore guard/forward Trevon Liggins registered his first career double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, both of which are career-high totals. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native connected on 7 of 10 shots with one three pointer and three hits from the charity stripe. He also picked up a team-leading three steals.

Two other players scored in double-figures, with Feller using his season-high-matching four triples to reach 15 points and freshman Telin Porter nearly secured his first double-double with 12 points and nine boards. Porter also added four steals. Guard Arrion Curothers was tops in assists with six, to go along with five points.

Madison College made a season-high 14 three-pointers and shot 52% from long range. A dozen of those hits from beyond the arc came during the second half, including all five from Hoffman, all four by Feller, and two from sophomore Jordan Boyd. Rock Valley College outrebounded the 'Pack by ten, and claimed a 25-7 edge in second chance points. The hosts also committed seven fewer turnovers, and took advantage of the WolfPack's 18 miscues to generate a 26-14 lead in points off turnovers.

Rock Valley College boasts wins in two of three meetings against the WolfPack in 2021-22, and now claim a 36-15 lead in the all-time series. The Golden Eagles are also 4-1 in postseason games, with the four victories coming consecutively. The win advanced RVC to the Region 4 Division III Championship, where they upset top-seeded Joliet Junior College 78-61 to move on to and host the NJCAA Great Lakes District Championship against Region 12 winner Lorain County Community College on Saturday, February 26.



Follow WolfPack men's basketball: Facebook | Twitter