MADISON, WISC. - Playing their final regular season home game at H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium and eyeing a stop to a three-game losing streak, the Madison College men's basketball team saw a double-digit second half lead evaporate as the College of DuPage earned a 77-69 win in Region 4 competition on Saturday. The decision closes the gap in the all-time series to 18-17 in favor of the #21-ranked WolfPack, while the Chaparrals have now won seven of the last ten meetings. The two teams will play again on Thursday, February 20 in Illinois. Prior to tip off, the team celebrated Sophomore Day by recognizing a three-member Class of 2025 that includes Amir Ford, JP Pleasant, and Cullen Rauls.

With the game tied at 7-7 after four minutes of play, Madison College engineered a 10-0 run that began with a basket by Ford and ended with a Ceegan Rauls three-pointer. The College of DuPage (19-9) eventually chipped the differential down to one at 22-21 with 5:57 to go before halftime. Pleasant knocked down a jump shot on the next possession and the WolfPack remained in front as Carson McCormick helped send the game to halftime with consecutive three-pointers for a 37-29 advantage.

McCormick scored again to start the second half with a driving layup through traffic, giving the home team a double-digit lead. The Chaparrals had it back to even as the clock moved until 16:00 left with an 11-1 surge. The scoring picked up for both teams midway through the half, with the WolfPack managing to hold a lead despite COD tying the score on occasion. A 12-3 stretch in favor of the Pack advanced the score to 59-50 with 9:37 to go; however, the Chaparrals were back to tied at 60-60 less than three minutes later. A three-point range make by Pleasant stemmed the tide briefly, and a 10-0 burst by the visitors had DuPage up 70-63 with 2:36 on the clock. Madison College got as close as five in the final minute, but was unable to complete the late rally as they were outscored 27-10 over the game's final nine-plus minutes.



Pleasant racked up 20 points and ten rebounds en route to his fifth double-double and sixth game with at least 20 points. The native of Beaumont, Texas, was 7 for 17 from the floor with a pair of three's, while also making 4 of 6 free throws.

George Whaley IV added 18 points on 6 of 14 shooting with a three-pointer and a 5 for 6 effort at the line. He also had three rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

McCormick canned three shots from three-point range as part of an 11-point effort. First year guard Jevon Campbell matched Pleasant with a career-best ten rebounds, to go along with a career-high five assists. The native of Lincoln Park, Michigan, also scored seven points.

Madison College was 23 for 55 (41%) overall, 9 for 24 (37%) from distance, and 14 of 22 (63%) at the free throw line. The WolfPack also held a 15-8 lead in points off turnovers, while the College of DuPage owned leads of 34-24 in points in the paint and 33-10 in bench points. 



Up Next:

Madison College (18-7) will close out the regular season with back-to-back road games, starting Tuesday, February 18 against in-state and Region 4 rival Milwaukee Area Technical College (11-16). The Stormers have won ten straight over the WolfPack, who lead the all-time series by a 64-58 mark. Tip off is set for 8:00 p.m. at Alverno College's Reiman Gymnasium and can be live streamed here.

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