MADISON, WISC. - Exactly two months after the Madison College men's basketball team suffered their first loss of the season to a nationally-ranked team, the WolfPack saw a nine-game win streak come to an end with their second loss to a nationally-ranked opponent when they dropped a 79-72 non-region game against Ellsworth Community College on Saturday inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. Freshman George Whaley IV led five players in double figures for the Pack, who saw a nine-point halftime lead disappear. The Panthers, ranked #9 in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll, are now 2-0 all-time against #19-ranked Madison College.

The teams were locked in a back-and-forth tussle for the game's first eight-plus minutes, which saw six lead changes and three ties. Guards Cullen Rauls and Whaley knocked down consecutive three-pointers to start a 16-4 surge for the WolfPack. That run ended with a Theo Schofield triple to make it 31-21. Another Whaley hit from distance gave Madison College its biggest advantage of the day at 37-25 with under three minutes remaining in the half, and the home team still held a 42-33 lead at the break.



The momentum of the game shifted early in the second half as Ellsworth Community College (14-2) put together a 17-4 surge to begin the half and take a six-point lead. The WolfPack were never able to pull even or regain the lead from that point on. The differential grew to as high as nine with five minutes to play, and a run of two free throws and a layup by Schofield made it 73-70 with 2:13 remaining. The Panthers scored six of the final eight points to close out game, while Madison College finished 1 for 6 from the field and 0 for 2 at the free throw line during that stretch.

Whaley led the Pack with a career-best 20 points on 7 for 17 shooting overall, a 2 for 5 effort from outside the arc, and a 4 for 5 performance at the charity stripe. The Williamsport, Pennsylvania, native, owns seven double-digit scoring games and finished Saturday's contest with six rebounds and three assists.

Rauls tallied a dozen points with nearly half coming from the free throw line. The sophomore transfer finished 3 for 9 from the floor with one long range hit and a 5 for 6 day at the line. He also led Madison College with four assists and three steals.

Schofield and JP Pleasant both tallied 11 points. Schofield, a native of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, playing in his second game, registered a career-best point total on 4 for 8 shooting with a three-pointer and a pair of free throws. The 6'5" forward also had seven boards. Pleasant got to his 11 points with four field goals, including one from three-point range, and two free throws, to go along with four rebounds. 

Freshman guard Carson McCormick added ten points, making two of his four shots from long range. 



The WolfPack finished 25 for 61 (41%) overall, 7 for 22 (31%) beyond the arc, and 15 for 23 (65%) from the free throw line. The home team held narrow advantages in points off turnovers (13-8) and second chance points (7-5); however, they trailed 44-28 in interior scoring.

Up Next:

Madison College (10-2) returns to Region 4 competition on Wednesday, January 8 with a road trip to Harper College (2-13). The WolfPack, who are one four teams without a loss against region foes, leads the all-time series with the Hawks by a 23-10 tally, which includes wins in the previous 12 meetings. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Palatine, Illinois, and can be live streamed here.

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