Just into the second half of the season, the Madison College men’s basketball team boasts an impressive 13-3 record and has been ranked as high as 16th in the NJCAA Division II poll.
Included in the Madison College’s 13 wins is an impressive nine-game winning streak.
Although the team recently suffered a large-margin loss to in-state rival Bryant & Stratton College, it was able to bounce back in its most recent game.
JP Pleasant scored a season high 33 points to help lead Madison College to an 84-74 victory over Morton College in Cicero, Illinois on Jan. 18.
Pleasant was joined in double figures by three of his teammates. George Whaley IV scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds, Carson McCormick had 12 points and Cullen Rauls added 10 points.
Madison College actually trailed at halftime, but outscored Morton College, 52-39 in the second half to claim the victory.
The next home game for the WolfPack is against Rockford University JV on Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and against Ilinois Valley Community College on Jan. 25 at 3 p.m.
Bryant & Stratton College 82, Madison College 40
A tough night offensively saw Madison College fall to visiting Bryant & Stratton College, 82-40, on Jan. 15, posting a season-low in points scored. The team converted on only 14 of 47 shots (30 percent) and only 2 of 15 from three-point range.
No player scored in double figures for the WolfPack, who trailed 44-16 at halftime. The top scorers for Madison College were JP Pleasant and Wil Dietrich, who each scored seven points.
Madison College 75, Black Hawk College 70, OT
Madison College converted on 9 of 10 free throw attempts in overtime to fend off Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois, on Jan. 11.
After trading baskets to start the overtime period, JP Pleasant scored the go-ahead basket with a layup with 1:18 left on the clock. From there, Black Hawk had three empty possessions as the WolfPack pushed its lead to 71-64 before sealing the win with free throws.
Cullen Rauls led the team with 26 points and grabbed a career high eight rebounds. Pleasant finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Carson McCormick added 13 points.
Madison College 43, Harper College 33
A low-scoring battle saw Madison College rally from an eight-point first-half deficit to post a 43-33 victory over Harper College in Palatine, Ill., on Jan. 8.
The two teams combined to shoot just 28 percent in the game, but Madison College held Harper to just 12 points in the second half to pull off the win.
George Whaley IV led the team in scoring with 16 points, while Carson McCormic added nine. Whaley scored 15 of his points in the second half to help lead the rally.
Ellsworth College 79, Madison College 72
Ninth-ranked Ellsworth College handed Madison College its second loss of the season, 79-72, on Jan. 4. Ellsworth rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit thanks to a 17-4 run early in the second half.
Whaley led Madison College with a career-high 20 points, while Cullen Rauls scored 12 points. JP Pleasant and Theo Schofield both added 11 points for the WolfPack.
Madison College 73, Oakton College 51
Madison College closed out 2024 with its ninth-straight victory, beating Oakton College, 73-51, in Des Plaines, Ill., on Dec. 21. The WolfPack took a 31-23 lead at halftime, but saw Oakton pull within three points midway through the second half. But a 9-2 run gave Madison College the push it needed to close out the win.
Rauls led Madison College with 22 points, while McCormick add 18 points. Pleasant finished the game with 11 points and 14 rebounds, while Ryen Jones added 10 points.
Madison College 100, Blackhawk Technical College 91
Five players scored in double figures to lead Madison College to a 100-91 victory over in-state rival Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville on Dec. 18.
Whaley scored 18 points to lead the team, while McCormick and Jevon Campbell both scored 17 points. Pleasant had 13 points, while Jones added 10.