Back-to-back overtime victories gave Madison College men’s basketball team a six-game winning streak before coming to an end with a loss to Bryant & Stratton College.
Madison College, currently ranked 20th in the NJCAA Division II poll, defeated visiting Joliet Junior College, 89-82, on Feb. 3. The WolfPack held Joliet, which is ranked No. 4 in the Division III poll, without a field goal for the final three minutes of the game and throughout overtime to take the victory.
Joliet held an 11-point lead with just under eight minutes left in the game, but Madison College went on a 17-6 run fueled by a pair of 3-pointers by Carson McCormick to tie the game at 74-74 with 1:35 left. After Joliet sank two free throws, Jackson Bertagnoli had a rebound basket to send the game into overtime at 76-76.
In overtime, Joliet missed all eight of its shots while Madison College hit 11 of 14 free throws to secure the victory. JP Pleasant led the WolfPack with 23 points before fouling out. McCormick hit five 3-pointers and scored 20 points. Bertagnoli scored all 12 of his points in the second half and overtime.
The other overtime victory came against Carl Sandburg College, with the WolfPack outlasting its opponent, 101-95, on Feb. 1. Madison College held a nine-point halftime lead, but needed a basket by Pleasant and a defensive stand to force overtime.
During the overtime period, Madison College was able to outscore Carl Sandburg, 19-13, to survive another close game.
Pleasant led the team with 31 points on 11 of 18 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.
Ryen Jones scored a career-high 21 points and added seven rebounds and two steals. Bertagnoli added 13 points, while George Whaley IV and Jevon Campbell both had 12 points.
Madison College has one home game left before the start of post-season play when it hosts the College of DuPage on Feb. 15 at 3:30 p.m.
Bryant & Stratton College 104, Madison College 87
Madison College fared better in its rematch with Bryant & Stratton College on Feb. 6, but the end result was the same as the 18th-ranked Bobcats defeated the WolfPack, 104-87. Bryant & Stratton held a 48-47 lead at halftime but scored the first six points of the second half and never relinquished the lead.
Whaley scored a career-high 23 points to lead four WolfPack players in double figures. Pleasant scored 16 points, including three 3-pointers. Bertagnoli and Theo Schofield both came off the bench to score 10 points.
Madison College 80, Harper College 63
A big first half led to an 80-63 victory for Madison College over visiting Harper College on Jan. 28. The WolfPack outscored its opponent, 45-26, in the first half and then maintained the lead the rest of the way.
The win was powered by 3-point shooting. Madison College sank a dozen 3-point shots, led by five from McCormick. McCormick finished the game with 17 points, while Cullen Rauls added 16 and Jones scored 14.
Madison College 85, Illinois Valley Community College 52
A balanced scoring attack and consistent defense led Madison College past Illinois Valley Community College, 85-52, at home on Jan. 25.
Four players each scored 12 points for the WolfPack: Pleasant, McCormick, Whaley and Carson McCormick.
Defensively, Illinois Valley was held to 29 points in the first half and 23 points in the second half.
Madison College 86, Rockford University JV 63
Madison College led from start to finish and all 12 of its players scored in a 86-63 victory over Rockford University JV at home on Jan. 23.
McCormick led the WolfPack with 15 points, including a 3 of 8 shooting effort behind the 3-point line. Pleasant added 14 points, including 10 in the first half. Ceegan Raul scored a career best 13 points including four 3-pointers.