Kalmon Stokes hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 1:13 left in the game and Aurora (Ill.) University held on to defeat the Lakeland College men's basketball team 103-99 Tuesday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Spartans won the latest and highest-scoring affair in a series full of shootouts in recent years between the two most prolific offensive teams in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. The game also served as both teams' NACC season openers, and Aurora improved to 2-0 overall while Lakeland is now 1-2.

The game featured 67 made field goals, 51 made free throws, five ties and nine lead changes. No fewer than 12 players scored in double figures, including six from each team.

For much of the night, the Muskies played Sylvester to Aurora's Tweety Bird, chasing the guests only to see them pull away again whenever Lakeland got close. The Spartans built a 16-point lead in the first half, but the Muskies used a 16-3 run to get within 40-37 late in the half before falling back behind 49-42 at the break.

Aurora again went back ahead by 11 early in the second half, but Lakeland used an 11-2 spurt to close within 59-57 after a three-pointer by Brandon Hagenow (Sr.-Sussex, Wis.). The Spartans answered right back with seven straight points in just over a minute, and Tyler Hall's jumper made it 66-57 with 14:50 left in the game.

The Muskies chipped away and finally took their first lead since 8-7 when Travis Kell (Jr.-Madison, Wis.) scoring inside to make it 82-81 with 7:30 to play. Lakeland eventually went ahead by five, but the Spartans answered right back to take an 87-86 lead, setting the stage for an exciting finish.

The teams traded the lead five times in the final six minutes and were still tied at 95-95 when Stokes hit his big three-pointer. The Muskies answered with a jumper by Brandon James (So.-Rockford, Ill.) and two free throws from Pat McDonald (Fr.-Port Washington, Wis.) sandwiched around a layup by Jovon Griffin, and Griffin made 1 of 2 free throws for a 101-99 edge with 17 seconds left. Lakeland drove for a tie, but a layup by James and a tip attempt both missed, and Aurora's Josh Lynn salted the game away with two free throws with eight seconds left.

McDonald and Joshuan McNeal (So.-Chicago, Ill.) both scored 18 points to lead the Muskies, while Kell added 16, Tanner Hackl (Sr.-West De Pere, Wis.) chipped in 15 and Hagenow and James both added 11 points each. Kell and Hackl also both had double-doubles with 10 rebounds each.

The Muskies shot 45.9% (34 of 74) and outrebounded the Spartans 44-39. Aurora shot 51.6% (33 of 64) and was led by Tyler Hall with 19 points.

Lakeland is in action again Saturday when it hosts Edgewood College for another NACC game at 2 p.m. at the Woltzen Gym.