MEQUON, Wis. – Zach Van Engen (Sr.-Sheboygan Falls, Wis.) made two free throws with five seconds left in the game and the Lakeland College men's basketball team held on for an 84-82 victory over Concordia University Wisconsin Tuesday night.

The Muskies knocked off the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference preseason favorites on the road, rallying after trailing entering the game's final minute. Lakeland improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play while dropping Concordia to the same records overall and in league.

The Muskies led much of the night, taking the lead in the early going and shooting 56.3% in the first half. Lakeland built a 14-point margin at one point and led all the way in the second half until the Falcons finally pulled even and even took the lead.

Tanner Hackl (Sr.-West De Pere, Wis.) scored inside with 4:05 left in the game to give the Muskies a 76-68 lead, but Concordia chipped away and tied it at 79-79 on a three-pointer by Taron Edwards with 1:50 left. Hackl scored again on Lakeland's next possession, but Eric Kittel hit a three-pointer with 1:06 left to make it 82-81, the Falcons' first lead since 11-10 just over five minutes into the game.

The Muskies tied it up when Pat McDonald (Fr.-Port Washington, Wis.) split two free throws with 42 seconds left, and the team then dodged several major bullets. Concordia's Bradley Prinsen missed two free throws with 18 seconds left and James Mitchell missed a putback after an offensive rebound, with Travis Kell (Jr.-Madison, Wis.) finally clearing the rebound.

Van Engen was then fouled with five seconds left and made both free throws to put Lakeland ahead. CUW had one final chance, but Kittel's three-pointer just before the buzzer was blocked by Mark Gryszkiewicz (Jr.-Sussex, Wis.).

Kell led the Muskies offensively and on the glass with the most productive all-around game of his career. He finished with 25 points-including 17 in the first half-and a career-high 12 rebounds, hitting 11 of 15 shots from the field and also blocking three shots.

McDonald added 16 points and Hackl chipped in 13 plus three blocks. Lakeland shot 51.7% from the field for the game (31 of 60) and also won the rebounding battle 36-31.

Edwards paced Concordia with 21 points while Kittel added 16. The Falcons shot 43.5% from the field, hitting 27 of 62 shots.

Lakeland is on the road again Saturday for a rematch with Aurora (Ill.) University at 2 p.m. The Muskies and Spartans will wind up playing twice in a span of 12 days, after Aurora won the first meeting 103-99 at Lakeland last Tuesday.