The Chaps came close, but just fell short Tuesday night in a 72-70 loss against visiting Madison in Region 4 Division 3 men's basketball.
 
Madison's Telin Porter delivered the game-winning basket as time expired, handing the Chaps (11-12 overall, 3-2 D3) a difficult loss with one game remaining in D3 play. COD plays at Harper on Thursday.
 
Coach Joe Kuhn's team, which never led in the second half, got to within one point on three different occasions, only to have the WolfPack answer and eventually win.
 
Down 62-51 with 5:40 to go, the Chaps never stopped challenging the lead. They fought back and it looked like the tide turned their way when Drew Gaston found a wide-open Derome White free on the deep right wing with 21 seconds left.
 
White set himself up and hit a 3-pointer that tied the game at 70, for the first time since late in the first half, 23-23 with 5:23 remaining.
 
Madison worked the ball up court and called time out with 12 seconds left. COD played tough defensively, yet Telin Porter created a shot that hit the back of the rim as the buzzer sounded, and the ball then fell through the net for the win.
 
Gaston led the Chaps with 20 points. Matt Elliott scored 14 and Finn Walsh added 12, 11 in the first half.
 
Madison hit 15 of 16 free throws, compared to COD's 8-for-19 showing. The Chaps outscored Madison, 24-9 on 3-pointers.