MILWAUKEE, Wis. — No. 5 Milwaukee Area Technical College used a dominant first half and a decisive 21–6 run to take control early and defeat College of DuPage 97–63 on Tuesday night, extending its winning streak to 14 games and remaining unbeaten at home at 11–0.

MATC set the tone immediately from the opening tip. Sophomore point guard Qi'Andre Washington scored six of the Stormers' first nine points and finished the opening half with 17, helping MATC establish rhythm before the decisive run began. The Stormers also reached 22 assists for the game, marking the 13th time this season they have recorded 20 or more. They are 13–0 in those contests.

"Ending the game with 22 assists was excellent," MATC head coach Randy Casey said. "Throughout the year when we have been in the 20s for assists, things have been pretty good for us."

The Stormers led 21–15 with 12:04 left in the first half before breaking the game open with a seven‑minute surge that showcased their defensive pressure, ball movement and overall efficiency. Sophomore guard Raydelh Boutin fueled the stretch with seven points on perfect shooting and two assists. His scoring included a corner three, a mid‑range jumper and two free throws, all while helping MATC push the pace and force DuPage into rushed possessions.

MATC continued to build momentum as the half progressed, stringing together stops and converting in transition. Washington added multiple buckets during the run, including the pull‑up jumper at the 5:19 mark that capped the 21–6 burst and pushed the lead to 42–21. The Stormers controlled the tempo, forced eight first-half turnovers and consistently generated clean looks on offense through crisp passing and spacing.

"Our defensive intensity stood out during that stretch," Casey said. "That is definitely one thing that we showed in the first half."

The opening half ended with one of the night's signature moments. After securing the inbound pass in the final seconds, Boutin went coast to coast, weaving through traffic before euro‑stepping around a defender for a layup at the buzzer. The play sent MATC into the locker room with a commanding 52–27 advantage. The Stormers shot 55.6 percent in the opening half and posted a 12‑to‑1 assist‑to‑turnover ratio, reflecting their sharp execution and unselfish play.

Washington finished the night with a career‑high 23 points on 9‑for‑14 shooting, adding seven rebounds, seven assists and a steal in one of his most complete performances of the season. His ability to score at all three levels, facilitate in the half court and rebound from the guard position set the tone throughout the night.

"Our coaching staff has been on us about starting off strong, so I knew if I came out strong then it would translate throughout to the rest of the team," Washington said. "I just took advantage of the opportunities and mismatches that I had."

As a team, MATC shot 46.1 percent for the game and went 17‑for‑19 at the free‑throw line. The Stormers totaled 22 assists against just nine turnovers, with most of the miscues coming in a slower second half. MATC also dominated the specialty categories, outscoring DuPage 21–2 in points off turnovers and holding a 30–12 advantage from three‑point range. The Stormers' defensive pressure forced 17 DuPage turnovers and held the Chaparrals to 34.3 percent shooting overall.

With a large lead early in the second half, MATC was able to clear its bench and distribute minutes across the roster. The Stormers committed eight turnovers after halftime as the pace slowed and rotations expanded, but the outcome was never in doubt. DuPage made small pushes throughout the half, but MATC consistently responded with timely baskets, defensive stops or trips to the free‑throw line to maintain a comfortable margin.

"Again, we had a letdown at the beginning of the second half and that is what we talked about," Casey said. "We have to learn to put a full game together on the defensive end because we are going to need it if we want to do the things we want to do in the postseason."

Washington led the Stormers with a career‑high 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Boutin added 12 points, five rebounds and six assists. Hackett contributed 11 points and four rebounds, knocking down three three‑pointers. Off the bench, Sterling Hoarde provided 13 points on 4‑for‑6 shooting, and Rivers added nine points, five rebounds and two steals. Sophomore forward Brendan Nesbary chipped in eight points and four rebounds to round out MATC's balanced scoring night.

"I feel like I am stronger than most people, so I try to get close‑percentage shots," Washington said. "I saw that I had a mismatch, so I attacked close to the basket instead of settling for jump shots."

Casey echoed that assessment.

"When Washington does not rely on his jump shot and he gets to the rim, he is so strong there are no guys who are just stopping him," Casey said. "That is where he needs to start his game, inside the paint, because then he has confidence seeing the ball go through the hoop and it makes his outside shot even better."

UP NEXT
No. 5 MATC (21–3) hosts Joliet Junior College at 8 p.m. Thursday for its Black History Month Recognition Game.