PALOS HILLS, Ill. – The Milwaukee Area Technical College men's basketball team took control in its game against Moraine Valley on Thursday, taking the lead early on before claiming an 81-78 NJCAA Division II Region 4 (Midwest B District) men's basketball quarterfinal victory.

The three-point road win over the Cyclones places the Stormers (13-17) into Sunday's semifinals, where they will face Waubonsee Community College in Rockford, Illinois.

"We came out strong and played a good first half vs. Moraine and we were able to hold them off in the second," MATC head coach Randy Casey said. "Matthew Hoarde hit two big free throws with 17 seconds left in the game to put us up three. On the next Moraine possession, Cyrus Little made a great defensive play by taking a charge getting us the ball back. It was a big win after losing to them on the same floor around ten days ago by 15."

Sophomore forward Antonio Foxwell led five Stormers in double figures with 23 points. Sophomore Matthew Hoarde added 22 points, followed by freshman Noah Daniels (13 points), sophomore Cyrus Little (12), and freshman Julian Valentine (11).

MATC's balanced offense helped the Stormers take a 44-29 halftime lead. Seemingly in control up 15 points coming out of the break, MATC had a bend, but don't break approach in the second half.

Collectively, the Stormers were outscored 49-37 in the second half. Moraine Valley's Deven Jiles led the comeback attempt, finishing with a team-high 23 points, but it wasn't enough to eliminate the Stormers from the postseason.

MATC finished the evening shooting 42.3 percent (33-for-73) from the field. They hit 10-of-13 free throw attempts and went 5-for-23 from beyond the arc.

STAT BOOK
Foxwell notched a double-double with 23 points (10-for-16), 10 rebounds and a pair of assists to lead the Stormers. Hoarde added 22 points, five rebounds and two assists. Daniels recorded 13 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two assists. Little poured in a dozen points, team-high 11 assists and four rebounds. Valentine chipped in 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal.

UP NEXT
The Stormers (13-17) face Waubonsee Community College at 4 p.m. Sunday in the NJCAA Region 4 semifinal.