Winter break has been tough on the Madison College men’s basketball team. The squad has lost six straight games, four of which were by seven or fewer points.
With the exception of a 97-74 loss to ninth-ranked Milwaukee Area Technical College on Jan. 11, the WolfPack has been within striking distance in every game since the fall semester ended.
Still, those close losses have dropped the WolfPack’s record to 5-10 as winter break wraps up.
Madison College kept things close throughout the first half against Milwaukee Area Technical College, trailing by 51-44 at halftime. But Milwaukee pulled away in the second half, outscoring the WolfPack 46-30.
Deante Luster led Madison College with 26 points in the game, while Tyler Mitchell and Monte Mayberry both scored 17 points.
Madison College is off until Jan. 20, when it hosts Black Hawk College at 2 p.m. for its annual Sophomore Day game.

College of DuPage 74, Madison College 71
Madison College’s attempt at a game-tying 3-pointer bounced off the rim as the game ended, giving College of DuPage a 74-71 victory over the WolfPack on Jan. 4.
Luster led Madison College with 22 points, including five 3-point baskets. He also had 12 rebounds, giving him his second double-double of the season. Mitchell scored 13 points and was the only other WolfPack player in double figures.

Lake Michigan College 91, Madison College 89
Madison College’s rally from a 12 point deficit with under 5 minutes left in the game fell just short in a 91-89 loss to Lake Michigan College in the second game of the Wisconsin Dells Holiday Classic on Dec. 30.
Luster led the team with 27 points, scoring 23 in the second half. Mitchell had 21 points, hitting nine of his 13 shots. Freshman Armon Freeman came off the bench to score a career-best 17 points. Antoine Coleman added 13 points.

Bay College 77, Madison College 73
Bay College scored six of the final seven points in the game to overcome Madison College’s slim lead and defeat the WolfPack, 77-73, in the first game of the Wisconsin Dells Holiday Classic on Dec. 29.
Luster scored 30 points to lead Madison College, matching his season-high scoring effort. Coleman scored a career best 14 points, while Mitchell added 11 points.

Waubonsee Community College 94, Madison College 87
Madison College sank 12 shots from behind the 3-point line to stay close with 15th-ranked Waubonsee, but fell, 94-87, at home on Dec. 18.
Mitchell led the WolfPack with 21 points, while Luster added 20 points. The two combined for seven 3-pointers. Monte Mayberry added 16 points, while Peter Gustafson scored 12.