MADISON, WISC. - With their eyes on an upset of the #15-ranked team in the NJCAA Division II Poll, the Madison College men's basketball team drained a season-high 12 three-pointers en route to their second-highest scoring output of the season, however, visiting Waubonsee Community College was up for the challenge and escaped H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium with a 94-87 win in Region 4 competition. Four players scored in double-figures - three of them connecting on at least three shots from beyond the arc - for the WolfPack, who now trail the Chiefs in the all-time series by a 9-2 tally.

After a quiet opening few minutes for both teams, Waubonsee Community College (11-1) got out to an 11-4 lead before a 7-1 surge by the Pack closed the differential to one. The Chiefs regained an 18-11 advantage, and still led by eight with 3:39 to play in the half when Madison College engineered a 14-5 surge capped by a layup and three-pointer from sophomore Deante Luster to put the WolfPack ahead 39-38 with 13 seconds remaining. A fast break layup in the final seconds at the other end returned the lead to WCC going into halftime.



The visiting Chiefs held onto the lead throughout the second half despite the differential remaining within a couple possessions for the first ten minutes. The deficit grew to eight points with a Waubonsee layup with 9:33 to play, and the WolfPack closed to within 74-71 on another Luster lay in three minutes later. That would mark the final time the score was within one possession as the Chiefs held Madison College without a field goal over the next five-plus minutes as they increased the lead to double-digits. Some poor free throw shooting down the stretch did leave the door open a crack for the WolfPack, who made it 91-87 with 24 seconds to go after Tyler Mitchell scored with a layup. The Chiefs made three of their next four attempts from the stripe and the Pack came up empty on two attempts from long range before the buzzer sounded.

Madison College finished 12 for 29 (41%) for their first game this season with ten or more makes from outside the arc. They were also 32 of 71 (45%) from the field and 11 of 14 (78%) at the free throw line, while also holding a 23-11 edge in second chance points thanks to a dozen offensive rebounds.

Mitchell, a first year guard from Dallas, Texas, produced his second game with 20 or more points as he tallied 21 on 7 of 19 shooting with three triples and a 4 for 5 effort at the line. He has scored in double-figures in five consecutive games and is averaging 18.0 points per game during that stretch.

Sophomore Deante Luster returned to the starting lineup and went for 20 points on 8 of 19 shooting that included a 4 for 9 effort from three-point range. The 6'3" former Sun Prairie HS athlete now boasts four games with at least 20 points so far this season. He also led the team with seven rebounds and seven assists.

Monte Mayberry, a sophomore transfer from Cardinal Stritch University, not only made his first career three-pointer with the WolfPack, but eventually knocked down 4 of 5 attempts from distance en route to a career-high 16 points. Second year wing Peter Gustafson contributed 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists off the bench.

Up Next:

Madison College (5-6) will head to the Wisconsin Dells Holiday Classic at JustAGame Fieldhouse on December 29-30 in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin for a pair of games between the holidays. The WolfPack open against Bay College (10-1) on Friday at 3:30 p.m., and finish with a 5:30 p.m. tip on Saturday against Lake Michigan College (3-5). Madison College is 1-1 all-time against the Norse, and will be squaring off with the Red Hawks for the first time. 

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