PALATINE, ILL. - Wednesday's Region 4 men's basketball game between Madison College and Harper College did not feature much offense, as the team's combined to shoot 28% and each team registered a half with fewer than 20 points. In the end, the WolfPack, ranked #19 in the NJCAA Division II Poll, rallied from an eight-point first half deficit to win 43-33 over the Hawks. Freshman guard George Whaley IV posted his first double-double and outscored the hosts in the second half thanks to a tough defensive effort turned in by coach Jason Roscoe's squad. Madison College owns a 13-game win streak over Harper College as part of a 24-10 all-time series lead.

The two teams traded short scoring runs stretched out over several minutes as they traded ties and lead changes over the first nine-plus minutes. Even at 10-10, a Harper College (2-14) slam gave the home team the lead with 7:46 remaining in the half. That basket triggered a 9-3 surge for the Hawks, who only allowed a Kaden Coppage three-pointer over that final time span until fellow first year guard Carson McCormick splashed home another triple in the final seconds of the half to make it a 21-16 deficit for the WolfPack.



Madison College turned its focus to defense in the second half and went on to hold the Hawks to four baskets and four free throws over the final 20 minutes. After two early free throws made it 23-18, Harper College scored its first bucket with 16:50 to play and did not find the basket again for the next 11 minutes. During that time, the WolfPack put together a 15-2 surge to build a nine-point lead. Whaley scored the first 12 points of the half for Madison College, with McCormick's three-pointer at the 10:30 mark being the first successful basket anyone other than Whaley. The Hawks did narrow the gap to seven at 36-29 with 5:45 to go; however, JP Pleasant's layup and another McCormick triple aided in a quick seven points to make it 43-29 with three minutes left. Harper managed to score two layups in the final minutes before Madison College ran out the clock.

Whaley scored 15 of his 16 points in the second half and grabbed a career-best ten rebounds en route to his first double-double. The native of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, sank three 3-pointers as part of a 6 for 12 shooting effort overall and made one free throw as the only WolfPack player in double-figures. The 6'1" guard also added three assists and three steals.



McCormick matched Whaley with three makes from beyond the arc to score nine points, while also dishing out three assists. Pleasant, a sophomore forward, finished with six points, nine boards, and three blocks.

The WolfPack survived despite shooting a season-low 28% (17-60) from the field. They were 7 for 24 (29%) from distance and 2 for 7 (28%) at the stripe. They limited the Hawks to an 11 for 38 (29%) effort overall and a 2 for 12 (16%) mark outside the arc. Harper finished 9 for 19 (47%) at the free throw line. Madison College took advantage of 25 Hawks turnovers to generate a 21-9 edge in points off turnovers.

Up Next:

Madison College (11-2) remains perfect in Region 4 competition with a 10-0 record as they finish off a short two-game road swing on Saturday, January 11 at Black Hawk College (6-8). The two teams have split their prior two meetings, with the WolfPack earning a three-point home victory over the Braves last season. Tip off in Moline, Illinois, is slated for 3:00 p.m.

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