MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College men's basketball team opened an extended five-game homestand on Thursday with a resounding 86-63 win over NCAA Division III Rockford University JV inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. The WolfPack, who dropped five spots in the NJCAA Division II Poll to #21 this week, saw all 12 players score in the game, with four reaching double-figures. The win gives the Pack a 4-0 mark all-time against the Regents.

Madison College, which led from start to finish, scored the game's first seven points and raced out to a 13-4 lead thanks to three early three-pointers. Back-to-back layups from George Whaley IV pushed the WolfPack to its first double-digit lead at 17-6. Freshman guard Ceegan Rauls hit two of his career-high four 3-pointers later the half to bookend a 10-0 run. Shortly after the run, JP Pleasant hit from distance to give the Pack its largest lead of the night at 43-15.



The second half opened with the home team ahead 47-23, and while the Regents hot-shooting Kooper Staley did all he could to keep RU within reach, Madison College maintained a healthy advantage throughout the final 20 minutes. Another McCormick hit from distance pushed the lead to 67-42 with 11:18 to play. Rockford pulled to within 16 with 3:24 remaining, but managed just two free throws the rest of the game. 

McCormick, a former Janesville Craig HS athlete, led the WolfPack with 15 points on 6 of 13 shooting that included a 3 for 8 effort from beyond the arc. The 6'1" guard has made three or more three-pointers in ten games, and now boasts 11 games with at least ten points. He also added three assists, two rebounds, and a steal.

JP Pleasant followed up his career-high 33-points with a 14-point effort that included ten points in the first half. He was 6 for 11 overall and a perfect 2 for 2 from three-point range. The Beaumont, Texas, native has scored in double figures in 11 games this season.



Ceegan Raul, a first year guard from Fall River, Wisconsin, scored a career-best 13 points thanks to a career-high four three-pointers. He was 4 for 6 overall and 1 for 2 at the free throw line, while also finishing with three rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

Forward Ryen Jones rounded out the double-digit scoring with 11 points as he was 5 for 8 from the field with a free throw. Amir Ford was tops on the glass for Madison College with seven rebounds and two points on a dunk off a dime from Cullen Rauls, who posted a team-leading five assists. 

The WolfPack shot 56% (33-59) for their sixth game this season at better than 50%. Their 12 for 20 (60%) effort from beyond the arc marks the fifth game with ten or more makes from distance. And they finished 8 for 18 (44%) at the stripe. Madison College took full advantage of Rockford's 17 turnovers to build a 21-6 edge in points off turnovers, and were also plus-eight in points in the paint.

Up Next:

Madison College (14-3) welcomes Illinois Valley Community College (7-15) to H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium on Saturday, January 25 for a Region 4 matinee. The Eagles downed the WolfPack in Illinois last year in the first meeting ever between the two programs. Game time is slated for 3:00 p.m. and can be live streamed at MadisonCollege.TV.

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