The Lakeland College men's basketball team trimmed an 18-point deficit to three in the final seconds but came up just short in an 84-79 loss to Concordia University Wisconsin Tuesday evening at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
The Muskies had a shot to tie in the final seconds but could never get back to even after chasing the Falcons all night. Lakeland never led in the game and dropped to 12-8 overall and 8-7 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.
Kurt Jansen (
Sr.-Wrightstown, Wis.) scored a career-high 20 points for Lakeland and was the team's most consistent offensive player throughout the game. A shot that wouldn't fall provided a cruel cap to his terrific game, though.
The Muskies had cut a nine-point deficit in the final minute down to three and had the ball in the frontcourt with 8.8 seconds left.
Joey Burris (
Sr.-Kiel, Wis.) drew a double-team outside the three-point line and made a jump pass to Jansen open on the left wing, but his three-pointer rattled in and out, and Concordia's Brett Boettcher grabbed the rebound and canned two free throws with a second left to salt the game away.
Lakeland played catchup all night, falling behind 13-4 in the first five minutes and 26-9 by the middle of the first half. The Falcons led 47-38 at halftime and pushed the lead to 18 at 64-46 with 12:34 to play before the Muskies fought back.
Lakeland went on a 21-6 run, closed by a short jumper by
Tanner Hackl (
Jr.-West De Pere, Wis.) to draw within three at 70-67 with still 5:52 left. The Muskies actually had two chances to get even closer on their next possession, missing a pair of contested layups in the paint, but Concordia (12-7 overall, 11-3 NACC) scored eight straight points to go ahead 78-67.
Jansen made 8 of 12 shots from the field to lead Lakeland. Burris added 19 points, including 15 in the second half, and
Travis Kell (
So.-Madison, Wis.) also scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Brandon Hagenow (
Jr.-Sussex, Wis.) also chipped in nine points and six assists.
The Muskies shot the ball well, making 30 of 52 shots (57.7%), but committed 18 turnovers. Concordia shot 31 of 63 (49.2%) and also hit 9 of 22 three-pointers.
The Muskies are home again Thursday when they host Rockford (Ill.) University at 7 p.m., in the makeup of a game originally scheduled for Jan. 7.
