The zero was nearly erased.

Unfortunately for the Madison College men’s basketball team, the “0” remains in their win column.

After dropping the first four games of the 2012-13 season, the WolfPack looked for their first season win in back-to-back games to open the home season. But their record dropped to 0-6 with losses to Sauk Valley College and Olive-Harvey College.

Madison College hosted Sauk Valley on Nov. 14, but struggled early for points. After an Alex Wuensch 3-pointer to give the WolfPack an early lead, they were held scoreless for nearly five minutes.

Jason Miller then made a 3-pointer and brought Madison College with a point (9-8). Though this score too, was followed by a scoring drought. Another Miller basket nearly four minutes later, shrank Sauk Valley’s lead to two points. A three-point play by Dominic Fumbanks gave the WolfPack their first lead of the game, 12-11.

The WolfPack eventually opened a six-point lead, then traded the lead several times before the close of the first half. A 3-pointer by Lucas Baier, with 30 seconds remaining, tied the game at 31-31, going into halftime.

As with the first half, the WolfPack had difficulty scoring early in the second. Madison College managed just one basket in the first five minutes of the second half and Sauk Valley opened a nine-point lead.

Sauk Valley’s lead reached double-digits near the halfway mark and dipped to single-digits for just a short time. The WolfPack were unable to put together a scoring run to cut into the deficit, while Sauk Valley shot over 50 percent from the floor in the second half and made three of its five 3-point attempts. Madison was dropped to 0-5 with the 74-61 loss.

Sheldon Cooks led the WolfPack with 18 points, Miller had 16 and Wuensch had 10.

On Nov. 30, the WolfPack hosted Olive-Harvey, and came within a basket of earning their first win.

Down by four points and 32 second remaining, Cooks converted on a 3-point play – fouled during a made shot and making the free throw – making the score 81-80, with 10 seconds remaining.

Madison College fouled on the following inbound pass and sent Olive-Harvey to the free throw line. The first attempt was missed and Madison College secured the rebound, giving the WolfPack a chance for a game-winning shot.

However, Wuensch’s last-second attempt did not fall and the WolfPack suffered it’s sixth loss of the season. Fumbanks led Madison with 23 points and 11 rebounds, Miller had 17 points and Cooks finished with 13.