MADISON, Wis. – The Harper College men's basketball team had its best defensive effort of the season in the regular season finale at Madison College. The Hawks held their opponents to just 30.8 percent shooting and got 41 points combined between Marcus Gatlin (Chicago, Ill./Curie) and Allias Burnett (Joliet, Ill. /Joliet West) in a 61-47 victory.

Gatlin had a double-double of 23 points (10-of-11 free throws) and 10 rebounds for Harper (11-19, 2-12 N4C). Allias Burnett (Joliet, Ill. /Joliet West) was an efficient 8-of-15 from the field and had 18 points and four rebounds. The 47 points allowed was the fewest the Hawks have surrendered in a game this year. Madison (10-18, 4-10 N4C) was just 16-of-52 from the floor.

Harper led took the lead for good just over five minutes into the game as Gatlin converted a 3-point play to put the visitors ahead 10-9. The lead reached double digits for the first time at 26-16 with 6:16 left in the half on a jumper by Burnett. On the next possession, Christian Poulsen (Schaumburg, Ill. /Schaumburg) canned a three to put the Hawks ahead 29-16.

The lead reached 16 points with 1:39 left as Burnett converted a 3-point play. The WolfPack's Ethan Lurquin (11 points) scored the final five points of the half to cut the Harper lead to 34-23.

The Hawks came storming out of the gate in the second half, using a 13-0 run in the first eight minutes to build a 47-23 lead. In that spurt, all five Harper starters scored, and Poulsen punctuated the run with his second triple of the contest.

Madison slowly chipped away at the lead and got to within ten at 52-42 with 3:02 left on a Kristian Zimmerman three, but Harper converted 6-of-8 free throws in the closing minutes to preserve its second conference victory of the season.

The Hawks shot 39.6 percent (19-of-48) overall and 76.2 percent (16-of-21) from the foul line. In addition to Gatlin and Burnett's big games, Marcus Dover (Schaumburg, Ill. /Conant) added eight points and six rebounds. Abdul Mushtaq (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) chipped in six points, six rebounds, and three steals. Tyler Meier led the WolfPack with 16 points.

Harper will now turn its attention to postseason play beginning Wednesday. The Hawks drew the No. 6 seed and travel to No. 3 seed Joliet Junior College (21-9) for a 7:30 PM Region IV Quarterfinal matchup. The winner will play No. 2 Milwaukee Area Technical College (23-6) on Friday at 8 PM at Milwaukee. To view the full Region IV Tournament bracket, click here.

Joliet topped Harper in both meetings so far this season. The Wolves won 79-50 on Jan. 20 at Harper College and won 77-57 on Feb. 13 in the game played at Joliet Junior College.