GLEN ELLYN, ILL. - For the second consecutive game, the Madison College men's basketball team had a chance to tie the game at the final buzzer, only to watch the ball carom off the rim as time expired. The result on Thursday night was a 74-71 Region 4 road loss to the College of DuPage, pushing the WolfPack's current losing streak to five games despite five 3-pointers from sophomore Deante Luster. The setback also narrows the gap in the all-time series with the Chaparrals to 17-16 in favor of the Pack.

In a highly competitive and back-and-forth battle, Madison College trailed 22-20 after a Luster jumper with less than seven minutes to play in the first half. The College of DuPage (10-6) then went on an 11-2 run to create some separation, however, the WolfPack recovered to get within 36-30 at the half. 

Still trailing 54-47 after eight minutes of play, Madison College began to pick away at the deficit, starting with a Luster triple that ignited a run of seven consecutive points to tie the game. The team's traded leads and ties over the next few minutes, with the WolfPack pushing their advantage to as high as three. Freshman Antoine Coleman converted a jump hook in the paint with 2:15 to play, putting the visitors up 69-67. Following a pair of COD free throws, the Chaps went ahead 71-69 with a layup as the clock moved inside of 40 seconds remaining. After a Madison College turnover, freshman Armon Freeman took advantage of a careless pass in the backcourt and came up with a steal and a layup to make it 71-71 with 25 seconds to play. On the ensuing possession, DuPage was able to convert a challenged layup and Coleman was whistled for a block to give the home team a three-point lead on the and-1.

The Chaparrals then fouled Tyler Mitchell with five seconds on the clock, sending the first year guard to the line for a one-and-one. Despite missing the front end, fellow freshman and Texas-native Justin Pleasant reeled in the offensive rebound and a timeout was called to setup the final play. The baseline in-bounds end up in the hands of freshman Monte Mayberry at the top of the key, however, the open look at the potential game-tying three bounced off the side of the rim as the horn sounded.

Luster, a former Sun Prairie HS athlete, posted his second double-double of the season with 22 points and a career-high-tying 12 rebounds. He finished 8 of 19 overall, matched a season-best with five 3-pointers, and led the team with six assists.

Mitchell went 6 of 17 with a three-pointer to reach 13 points and had six rebounds. Three others scored eight points.

Madison College's nine hits from beyond the arc are the second most in a game this season, while their nine turnovers were the second fewest. The WolfPack owned a 15-8 edge in points off turnovers and an 11-6 lead in second chance points, while COD was 34-24 better in points in the paint.

The two teams will play again in Madison on January 23.

Up Next:

Madison College (5-9) continues their three-game road swing to begin 2024 with an in-state showdown on Tuesday, January 9 against rival Milwaukee Area Technical College (13-3). The Stormers are the defending national champions and are currently ranked #13 in the NJCAA Division II Poll. They have won the last eight meetings with the WolfPack, who still boast a 64-56 advantage all-time. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m. at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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