SOUTH HOLLAND, ILL. - South Suburban College remains an obstacle the Madison College men's basketball team can't seem to get past after Tuesday night's 91-72 loss in a key Region 4 matchup between two teams ranked in the NJCAA Division II Poll Top Ten. The #8-ranked Bulldogs used a big run late in the second half to take control of the game and earn their sixth consecutive win over the #10 WolfPack, a streak that includes playoff decisions to end the Pack's season in each of the past two years. Four players, led by George Whaley IV and Carter Sullivan, scored in double-figures for Madison, which suffers its first loss in region play after winning their first eight games this season.

The WolfPack held an early lead in the clash of teams near the top of the Region 4 standings, owning an 11-6 advantage after six minutes of play. Two minutes later, the game was tied and South Suburban College (14-2) was building momentum for a 13-0 run that ended with a pair of Whaley free throws. The surge continued for the rest of the half as part of a bigger 35-9 closing stretch to take a 51-24 lead at halftime.

Madison College was unable to generate a big enough rally in the second half to truly make it a game. They closed the deficit to as little as 17 and trailed by as much as 30 at 72-42 midway through the half.

Whaley and Sullivan each scored 15 points. Whaley, a second year guard, was 4 for 10 overall, 2 for 3 from beyond the arc, and sank all five of his free throws. He also led the team with five assists. Sullivan, a freshman forward from Stoughton, Wisconsin, finished 5 of 12 from the field with a 1 for 4 effort from long range. He added four free throws and also was tops with seven rebounds. 

Sophomore forward Noah Compan produced 13 points on 4 of 6 shooting and five made free throws off the bench. Carson McCormick made two of his three field goals from three-point range to reach ten points. 

Madison College shot 20 of 54 (37%) on the night for their lowest shooting percentage of the season, resulting in their second-lowest points output of 2025-26. The WolfPack was 8 of 21 (38%) from three and 24 for 32 (75%) at the stripe.

Up Next:

Madison College (13-2) will welcome Black Hawk College (12-5) to H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium on Saturday, January 17 for a Region 4 clash. The WolfPack is 2-1 all-time against the Braves, including wins in each of the past two seasons. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. and can be streamed live at MadisonCollege.tv.

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