MILWAUKEE — Top‑seeded Milwaukee Area Technical College survived a far tougher test than expected Thursday night, outlasting No. 16 seed Prairie State 104–98 in the opening round of the Region 4 Division II (Midwest District A) Tournament at Reiman Gymnasium. The Stormers, ranked No. 5 nationally, led just 54–51 at halftime and never fully separated in a game where Prairie State shot far above its season norms from beyond the arc.

Prairie State entered averaging 5.6 made 3‑pointers per game at 30 percent, but the Pioneers caught fire and finished 13‑for‑28 from deep, including 8‑for‑14 in the first half to keep pressure on the tournament's No. 1 seed. The unexpected perimeter surge allowed Prairie State to stay within striking distance throughout, forcing MATC to trade baskets far more than anticipated.

Despite the defensive challenges, MATC improved to 28–3 and extended its winning streak to 21 games, advancing to the Midwest District A semifinals. The Stormers will face No. 9 Waubonsee on Sunday at noon at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill., with a spot in the district title game on the line.

"You know, we didn't really come out to play," MATC sophomore guard Jayden Hackett said. "I think we came in just thinking that we were the better team and that we were just going to handle business, but we just have to come out every game knowing every team is going to give us their best shot. So overall, we've got a lot of stuff to clean up for Sunday."

Completing the first step toward their national championship aspirations wasn't easy. The first half unfolded as a grind, with MATC and Prairie State trading blows at a pace that never allowed either side to settle. The Pioneers matched the Stormers shot for shot, resulting in seven ties and a margin that never stretched beyond six points. MATC finally created a sliver of momentum in the final two minutes when Noah Daniels steadied the offense by drawing contact and sinking two free throws, followed by Qi'Andre Washington slicing through the lane for a finish. Washington earned another trip to the line moments later, and MATC's defense closed the half by forcing a contested 3 at the buzzer to protect a narrow 54–51 lead.

"They shot 57 percent from three in the first half, and that was emphasized during our halftime speech," Hackett said. "I think we came out of halftime and defended a little bit better on the perimeter."

Prairie State opened the second half with the first basket, but MATC countered with its most forceful stretch of the night. Turon Rivers went to work on the block, powering through defenders for multiple inside scores, while Washington added a 3 and another trip to the stripe to cap a 10–2 burst that briefly gave the Stormers breathing room. But Prairie State's resilience — and its continued shot‑making — kept the game tight. A timely 3 and steady free‑throw shooting pulled the Pioneers back within one possession, and even as MATC pushed the margin out several times, Prairie State repeatedly answered to stay within reach.

The Stormers held multi‑possession leads throughout the half, but Prairie State's ability to capitalize on miscues and convert tough looks prevented MATC from ever fully breaking the game open. A timeout midway through the period helped the Stormers reset, but the Pioneers still managed to creep within two possessions entering the final three minutes, with MATC clinging to a 95–90 lead.

Only in the final stretch did MATC finally assert control. Coming out of a timeout with 2:58 remaining, starting point guard Ray Boutin delivered a composed pull‑up jumper to steady the Stormers. Jordan Jones followed with a pair of clutch free throws, and after Prairie State briefly answered from deep, Jones returned to the line and calmly knocked down two more. MATC then forced a key defensive stop and closed the game at the stripe, finally putting away a Prairie State team that refused to go quietly. The Pioneers went 3‑for‑8 from the field with one turnover in the final three minutes.

Prairie State's perimeter shooting was the great equalizer. A team that typically averages 5.6 made 3s at 30 percent suddenly erupted for 13 makes, including eight in the first half, repeatedly bailing out possessions and erasing MATC runs. The Pioneers' ability to hit contested shots, draw fouls and convert at the line kept the Stormers from leveraging their athletic and size advantages.

"We just stayed strong," Casey said of the biggest key in the second half. "We could have been demoralized from the first half defensively because of the way they shot it, but we stuck with it and played some pretty good defense down the stretch."

Veteran guard play and composure at the free‑throw line carried MATC through the final minutes. Boutin's mid‑range jumper, Jones' perfect trips to the stripe and timely defensive stands finally created the separation that had eluded the Stormers all night. Their ability to execute late — after 37 minutes of back‑and‑forth pressure — proved decisive.

Hackett powered the Stormers with 28 points on 11‑for‑16 shooting, knocking down six 3s while adding six rebounds, two assists and three steals. Rivers delivered a major lift off the bench with a 22‑point, 12‑rebound double‑double on 11‑for‑15 shooting. Jones added 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Washington turned in another balanced effort with 17 points on 6‑for‑9 shooting, three rebounds, three blocks, three steals and an assist. Boutin finished with eight points and a game‑high 11 assists, and Jason Lawani chipped in five points and five rebounds.

UP NEXT
Riding a 21‑game win streak, No. 1 seed MATC (28–3) advances to the semifinals of the 2026 Region 4 Division II (Midwest District A) Tournament. The Stormers will face No. 8 seed Waubonsee at noon this Sunday at Rock Valley College.