MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College men's basketball team nearly pulled out a crucial win as they play for a spot in the upcoming Region 4 Tournament, however, they ultimately dropped a 76-74 decision to visiting Rock Valley College on Thursday night inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. Two players scored in double-figures for the WolfPack, including Sophomore Deante Luster as he became the 11th player in program history to surpass the 900-point mark for his career. The Golden Eagles, who are receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll, picked up their fourth consecutive win in the all-time series that stands at 38-18 in favor of RVC.

The only meeting of the season with Rock Valley College (21-6) saw a total of six lead changes and seven ties. The visitors took an early 10-4 lead before the WolfPack answered with an 8-2 surge to pull even at 12-12. Eight consecutive points midway through the first half to go ahead 22-14, and with the differential still at seven with 7:49 to play, Madison College began to assert themselves. Armon Freeman's layup off a Justin Pleasant assist ignited a 17-6 push capped by a Deante Luster triple with 1:27 remaining to make it 36-32 in favor of the home team. 

Leading 36-35 to start the second half, the WolfPack played their former conference rivals back-and-forth over the early stages of the second half. Madison College led 45-43 following a RVC three-point play and had a baseline inbounds under their own basket with 4:25 to play when Luster posted up in the paint and used another Pleasant entry feed to convert a bank shot for his 900th career point. The Pack held off the Golden Eagles over the next few minutes before six consecutive points from RVC's Blessing Nwotite put Rock Valley College up 58-55. Freshman Tyler Mitchell tied the game at 58-58 with a three-pointer as the clock moved inside of seven minutes left, however, the visitors put together a 9-0 run. Another Mitchell three closed the gap to 67-63 with 2:33 to play, and Luster made it a one possession game in the final minute with a layup. Rock Valley College made 2 of 4 free throws for a 76-71 before three successful throws from Freeman with seven seconds provided the final tally. Madison College tried to commit a foul and force RVC back to the line in the final seconds, but was unable to get a call.



Luster posted 30 points for the seventh time this season and now sits at 913 for his career, moving him into ninth on the school's all-time scoring list for men's basketball. The 6'3" wing and former Sun Prairie HS athlete was 12 of 24 overall and 3 for 9 beyond the arc, while also making 3 of 4 free throws. Luster is averaging 23.7 points per game and ranks tenth nationally.

Mitchell made two of his six baskets from three-point range and finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists. The freshman guard registered 13 of his points in the second half, and has scored in double-figures in 19 of the 24 games played in. Fellow Texas-native Justin Pleasant led the team with six assists, to go along with seven points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Peter Gustafson had seven points and a team-high eight boards.

Madison College made six more three-pointers than RVC, finished with a 1-9 edge in second chance points thanks to a dozen offensive rebounds, and committed five less turnovers en route to a 14-11 led in points off turnovers. The Golden Eagles claimed a 50-34 edge in points in the paint.



Up Next:

Madison College (9-16) will take one last crack at securing a spot in the postseason on Tuesday, February 20 when they close the 2023-24 regular season with a home game against in-state rival Milwaukee Area Technical College (21-5). The WolfPack will be seeking to avenge a 97-74 loss on January 11 to the defending national champion Stormers, who are currently ranked #11 in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll. Tip off inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium is at 7:30 p.m. and can be streamed live at MadisonCollege.TV with Cory Sparks providing play-by-play for the Madison College Game of the Month.

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