Despite a six-game slide to end the season, the Madison College men’s basketball qualified for its first appearance in the NJCAA Division II tournament. As the regional tournament’s No. 16 seed, they had to face top-seeded South Suburban College.

South Suburban College entered the tournament with a 22-8 record, having won its previous 10 straight games.

After a tough battle, South Suburban College won 101-59 taking them to the semifinals. The loss ended Madison College’s year with a 9-18 record. It was the second time in 16 days the WolfPack had to play South Suburban, who won the earlier game 108-53.

Three players scored in double figures for Madison College in the game. Tyler Mitchell led the team with 12 points, converting a perfect six for six from the free throw line. Monte Mayberry and Armon Freeman both scored 10 points each.

Team leading scorer Deante Luster, who entered the game averaging 23.9 points a game, was held to seven points but grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. He finished his Madison College playing career with 948 points, ranked ninth in team history.

Throughout the season, the WolfPack had several close games. Seven of their losses were by five or fewer points. Although these games did not end in their favor, they were still enough to bring Madison College to the tournament’s quarterfinals.

Looking further into their statistics shows that playing on their home court really made a difference. Their home game record was 6-7, while their record on the road was 3-9. That home team advantage truly showed for this season.

In addition to Luster, the WolfPack will be losing Monte Mayberry and Peter Gustafson who have completed their two-years of eligibility. Both Luster and Mayberry hope to continue their basketball playing careers at a four-year school.

Tyler Mitchell, who as the team’s No. 2 scorer with 13.6 points a game, and Justin Pleasant, who averaged 10.1 points a game, lead a group of five promising freshmen from this year’s team. The others include Antoine Coleman, Brian Gould and Armon Freeman.

Milwaukee Area Technical College 111, Madison College 72
Defending national champion and 10th-ranked Milwaukee Area Technical College led throughout the game in a 111-72 victory over host Madison College on Feb. 20 to wrap up regular-season play for the WolfPack.

Luster scored 28 points and had eight rebounds, three assists and three steals before fouling out of the game. Mitchell added 15 points and five rebounds, while Freeman came off the bench to score 10 points for his third double-digit game of the season.

Rock Valley College 76, Madison College 74
Madison College came up short in a game that saw six lead changes and seven ties, falling to Rock Valley College, 76-74, on Feb. 15. The game was tied at 58-58 with seven minutes left, but Rock Valley went on a 9-0 run to gain an advantage.

Luster led the WolfPack with 30 points, the seventh time this season he scored 30 or more points in a game. Mitchell finished with 15 points and was the only other WolfPack player to score in double figures.