JANESVILLE, WISC. - The Madison College men's basketball team completed a regular season sweep of their newest in-state and Region 4 rival Blackhawk Technical College with a 100-91 road win on Wednesday night. Five players scored in double figures for the WolfPack, who moved up to #19 in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll ahead of picking up their eighth consecutive victory. After also earning a 105-69 win in Madison last month, the Pack now boasts a 16-2 record all-time against the Talons.

The first half featured seven ties and four lead changes. Madison College trailed by three after a Talons 7-0 run with about eight minutes to play when sophomore Amir Ford sank a jumper to spark an 11-point surge that included consecutive three-pointers from Kaden Coppage, Carson McCormick, and George Whaley IV. Blackhawk Technical College (4-6) eventually rallied to tie the game at 40-40, and it was still even at 42-42  when the Pack sank two more triples before the half as Ceegan Rauls and Ryen Jones gave the visitors a 48-42 lead at the break.

Madison College earned its first double-digit lead with the first four points of the second half, going up 52-42. The Talons used a few short scoring runs to tie the game at 60-60 after five minutes of play; however, five quick points gave the WolfPack a lead they would not relinquish. The game, though, did remain close with BTC narrowing the gap to two points as late as 4:13 to play at 84-82. Again Amir Ford ignited a run with a fast break dunk as the Pack scored 13 of the next 16 points to take a 97-85 lead in the final minute.



Whaley, a 6'1" guard from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, set a new career-best with 18 points, to go along with six assists and four rebounds that led the team in both categories. He made 5 of 13 shots, including a three-pointer, and sank 7 of 8 free throw attempts. 

McCormick, playing in his hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin, buried 4 of 5 three-point tries en route to 17 points. The freshman guard finished 5 of 6 overall and was 3 for 3 at the free throw line. Fellow first year guard Jevon Campbell came off the bench to match McCormick with a career-high 17 points, marking just his second double-figure scoring game of the season. The Lincoln Park, Michigan, product, converted 6 of 9 shots and was 2 for 3 beyond the arc, while also going 3 for 4 at the charity stripe.

Forwards JP Pleasant and Ryen Jones rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 and ten points, respectively. Pleasant tallied more than half of his points from the free throw line with a 7 for 8 effort, to go along with three field goals. Jones made two of his four buckets from beyond the arc. 

Ford, who finished with six points, matched Whaley for team-high honors with four rebounds.

Madison College finished 34 of 62 (55%) overall, 11 for 20 (55%) from long range, and 21 for 25 (84%) at the free throw line to mark their second highest total for free throws made and attempted in a game this season. Blackhawk Technical College shot 55% (34-61) from the floor, 48% (12-25) beyond the arc, and 91% (11-12) from the stripe. The WolfPack took advantage of 19 turnovers by the Talons to generate a 27-17 edge in points off turnovers.

Up Next:

Madison College (9-1), whose lone loss of the season so far came on the road against the second-ranked team in the country, will close out the 2024 portion of their schedule on Saturday, December 21 with a Region 4 road game at Oakton College (6-8). The all-time series is even at 1-1; however, the two teams have not played since the late-1990s. Tip off is at 3:00 p.m. in Des Plaines, Illinois, and can be live streamed here.

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