DANVILLE, Ill. — Less than 24 hours after watching their national championship hopes disappear in an emotional locker room, Milwaukee Area Technical College struggled to summon the same urgency on Friday afternoon, falling 90–68 to Des Moines Area Community College in the consolation round of the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. The Stormers, who looked drained from the opening tip, never regained their footing after a late first‑half surge by the Bears. They finished the season 31–5 overall, tying the 2018–19 team for the second‑most single‑season wins in program history, behind only the 32‑win national champions of 2023.

"It's definitely a hard game to play, and we didn't play it," MATC head coach Randy Casey said. "We woke up for a little bit in the second half, but it was way too late. Our mindset was not right and it showed on the basketball floor. It's a tough game to turn around and have to play when you have one goal in mind and that was taken away, but as they grow older they have to learn to be mentally strong."

Despite a slow start, MATC briefly found rhythm and led 18–14 midway through the first half. However, the advantage evaporated quickly. DMACC closed the period on a devastating 29–12 run, capitalizing on turnovers, second‑chance opportunities and a series of runout layups that flipped the momentum. The Bears punctuated the half with a deep 3‑pointer from Hunter Gawron with seven seconds left, sending MATC into the locker room trailing 43–30.

Any hopes of a second‑half response were erased almost immediately. DMACC opened the half with a 10–0 burst, stretching the margin to 53–30 and forcing a Stormers timeout less than three minutes in. MATC never got closer than 15 the rest of the way as the Bears continued to score in waves and controlled the glass throughout, finishing with a 38–27 rebounding advantage and 10 second‑chance points to MATC's two.

"When they took the lead and things got tough, we just kind of threw in the towel, it seemed," Casey said.

Sophomore guard Jayden Hackett was the lone Stormer who consistently matched the moment, finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and four steals in 37 minutes. He accounted for much of MATC's offense during both halves and continued to compete until the final minute, adding a late steal and layup as the Stormers tried to close the game with pride.

Freshman forward Turon Rivers added 19 points on 8‑for‑11 shooting off the bench, while sophomore guard Kamarion Ivory, inserted into the starting lineup as a nod to his three‑year career under Casey, finished with seven points and six assists. Sophomore guard Jordan Jones added three points and four rebounds in 26 minutes, while sophomore teammate Qi'Andre Washington contributed three points, a rebound and a steal in 12 minutes. Veteran center Ozzie Johnson provided an assist and a block in 12 minutes of action. Off the bench, sophomore guard Raydelh Boutin supplied four points and two rebounds, and freshman wing Sterling Hoarde chipped in five points, two boards and a steal across 12 minutes. Freshman forward Jason Lawani added two points and a rebound, and freshman guard Brendan Nesbary delivered four points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal in 15 minutes.

"The guys that were on the floor deserved to be on the floor," Casey said. "Those were the guys who showed the most interest in playing. We tried many different things, but we just didn't have it and so I stayed with the guys who were showing the most pride."

DMACC placed five players in double figures and shot 48.1 percent from the field, including 11 made 3‑pointers. The Bears also turned 17 MATC turnovers into 25 points and outscored the Stormers 36–24 in the paint.

Despite the season‑ending loss, MATC closes the year with 31 wins, tying the 2018–19 team for the second‑most single‑season victories in program history. The Stormers also earned the No. 3 seed in the national tournament, the highest seeding the program has ever received. MATC reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 2024, won 24 straight games between the regular season and postseason, finished 14–0 at home, and spent most of the year ranked No. 5 in NJCAA Division II. And even with the early exit, the Stormers leave Danville having delivered one of the best seasons the program has ever produced.

"At the end of the day I'm not happy with how we walked off the basketball court, but as time passes and they look back, they'll hopefully understand that they had a great season," Casey said. "It will absolutely take time, but you can't take away what they accomplished this year."

For a roster built on continuity, toughness and three‑year contributors, Friday's performance reflected the emotional weight of the previous day, but not the legacy of the season.