FOND DU LAC – Alex Stecker hit a jumper with three seconds left in overtime and Marian University defeated the Lakeland College men's basketball team 72-70 Wednesday night at Marian's Sadoff Gymnasium.

The Sabres dug out of a hole late in regulation to complete a sweep of the season series between the two schools. Marian also is now tied with Lakeland for fifth place in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, as both as well as Concordia University Wisconsin all own 6-6 records in league play.

The Sabres also defeated the Muskies for the second time in overtime this season, as Marian also won an 87-81 decision in extra time at Lakeland just two weeks earlier. The game also marked the fifth time this season that Lakeland has lost by four points or less or in overtime.

Stecker's shot came just after Pat McDonald (Fr.-Port Washington, Wis.) tied the game with a three-pointer with 28 seconds left. The Muskies (10-7 overall) had come back after trailing by four on two occasions in overtime, the last time at 70-66 after a layup by Alex Manhardt with 2:07 left.

Marian (9-8 overall) was able to force overtime after the Muskies appeared in good shape to win the game with just seconds left in regulation. McDonald hit a jumper with 21 seconds left to give Lakeland a 61-58 lead, but following timeouts by both teams, Josh Creed was fouled while shooting a three-pointer with eight seconds left. Creed made all three free throws to tie the game, and both teams missed shots in the final seconds.

The game included 12 ties and 13 lead changes, with neither team leading by more than nine points. The Muskies held a 33-24 lead late in the first half after Brandon James (So.-Rockford, Ill.) hit a three-pointer, and Lakeland led 35-27 at the halftime break.

Marian needed just over 4 1/2 minutes in the second half to tie the game 39-39 on a three by Reggie Roemer, and the game settled into a back and forth the rest of regulation. The Muskies never trailed the rest of regulation after Tanner Hackl (Sr.-West De Pere, Wis.) hit a jumper to make it 52-51 with 6:39 left, but also never led by more than the four-point margin held after Brandon Hagenow (Sr.-Sussex, Wis.) hit two free throws to make it 57-53 with 4:54 left.

Hackl finished with 25 points, making 9 of 12 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free throw line. Hagenow added 11 points and four assists off the bench.

Both teams shot 40.3% for the game, with Lakeland hitting 25 of 62 shots and Marian going 27-for-67. Creed finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Sabres, who outrebounded the Muskies 49-34.

Lakeland is back home Saturday when it hosts Concordia University Chicago at 4:15 at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.