JOLIET, ILL. - The Madison College men's basketball team owned the lead for a majority of Tuesday night's Region 4 contest at Joliet Junior College, however, the Wolves rallied late to steal a 77-72 win from the WolfPack. Sophomore Deante Luster blew past the 800-point mark for his career, while fellow second year Monte Mayberry etched his name in the record books as the fifth player in school history to make seven or more three-pointers in a single game. The decision gives JJC a 28-10 advantage in the all-time series.

Mayberry's big night started right off the opening tip, as the sharpshooter sank a corner three in the game's opening possession. Luster soon followed with a triple of his own from the wing, moving him to 802 career points. The WolfPack's first dozen points came off of three pointers, igniting a 16-5 start over the game's first five minutes. The differential hovered around the ten-point mark for most of the first half until Mayberry canned back-to-back three-pointers to push the lead to 31-17. Joliet Junior College (14-12) answered with an 11-2 push to close the half at 33-28.



The second half started much the same way as the first half, with Mayberry draining two more early three-pointers to help the WolfPack take a 42-30 advantage. The Wolves surged to within 50-48, and the visitors answered with six straight points. Joliet Junior College started to heat up from long range as the half went on, and knocked down one of their ten 3-pointers to make it 60-59 with 8:00 remaining. Madison College not only maintained the lead, but built it back up to 67-61. Following a Luster putback with 4:45 to play and the Pack leading 69-64, JJC rattled off six straight points to take their first lead of the game at 70-69. Luster scored again with 2:45 left to put the WolfPack back on top, however, a Wolves triple with 1:30 on the clock gave the home team the lead for good. Freshman Tyler Mitchell had an opportunity to even the score with 75 seconds to go, but went 1 for 2 at the free throw line before the Wolves scored the game's final four points.

Mayberry finished the game with a career-high 21 points, all of it coming on his 7 for 10 effort from long range that falls one make shy of tying for a school record. The former Northwestern HS athlete owns four games this season with four or more hits from beyond the arc. He also finished with five rebounds.

Luster tallied 19 points, ending an impressive streak of three-straight games with 30 or more points. He was 7 of 20 overall with one triple and four made free throws on a night when he became the 16th player to reach the 800-point plateau in program history. Luster also added a team-leading eight rebounds and two steals.

Mitchell dropped in 17 points for his 16th game with double-digit scoring. The guard from Dallas, Texas, dished out a team-best five assists and collected four rebounds.

Up Next:

Madison College (9-12) opens a short two-game homestand on Thursday, February 8 when they host in-state and Region 4 rival Bryant & Stratton College (17-8). The WolfPack are 3-2 all-time against the Bobcats. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium and can be watched live at MadisonCollege.TV. The Madison College Athletic Department will be celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports during the doubleheader.

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