RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Travis Kell (Jr.-Madison, Wis.) was nearly perfect from the field, leading the way in a sharp shooting performance by the Lakeland College men's basketball team in an 89-72 win over Dominican (Ill.) University Saturday afternoon at the Igini Sports Forum.

Kell made 13 of 14 shots from the field to finish with 26 points. He did his work almost exclusively inside, with all but one basket scored in the paint. As a team, the Muskies shot a season-best 61.0% (36 of 59) in improving to 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

Lakeland was pushed by Dominican (1-10 overall, 0-7 NACC) most of the way before pulling away late. The Muskies finished the game on a 27-12 run over the final 10:12 after turning back repeated challenges from the stubborn Stars.

Lakeland took a 15-point lead with a 27-8 run finished by Kell's layup to make it 36-21 with 5:35 left in the first half. The hosts battled back, though, cutting the lead down to four before the Muskies took a 44-38 lead into halftime.

The Stars briefly tied the game early in the second half after a three-point play by Josh Mayberry, but Brandon Hagenow (Sr.-Sussex, Wis.) responded with his own three-point play to put Lakeland ahead 47-44. The Muskies never lost the lead again but still were ahead just 62-60 with under 11 minutes left. Tanner Hackl (Sr.-West De Pere, Wis.) hit a jumper after a 30-second timeout, the first of six straight points, and the Muskies slowly pulled away late.

Hackl finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists and also was nearly perfect shooting, hitting 6 of 7 from the floor and 6 of 6 from the free throw line. Hagenow and Pat McDonald (Fr.-Port Washington, Wis.) both added 14 points each. Lakeland shot 63.3% in the first half (19 of 30) and was nearly as good in the second half, making 17 of 29 (58.6%).

Tim Robertson scored 31 and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Dominican, which shot 28 of 70 (40.0%). Mayberry was the only other Stars player in double figures with 10 points.

The Muskies return home for their next game Tuesday against Wisconsin Lutheran College at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.