The Lakeland University men's basketball team had a poor shooting night and it was costly in an 81-70 loss to Concordia University Chicago Tuesday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies played from behind almost the entire game and shot a season-low 34.3%, an unhealthy combination in the team's first game in 11 days. Lakeland also was plagued by foul trouble much of the game in dropping to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

Concordia (2-6 overall, 1-4 NACC) came out strong at the start and never trailed in the first half, leading by as many as nine on two occasions. The Muskies were in comeback mode for virtually the entire half but seemed capable of mastering the task, rallying back to tie at one point and trailing just 38-35 at the break.

Lakeland also got off to a good start in the second half and took its biggest lead of the game when Joshuan McNeal (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) converted a three-point play to make it 50-45 with 14:54 left. The Muskies turned around a negative rebound margin in the first 20 minutes, out-rebounding the Cougars 11-3 in the first five minutes of the second half in taking the lead.

Concordia proved its resilience, though, responding with a 9-2 lead to retake the lead. Lakeland tied it back up at 54-54 on a short jumper by Deonte Carlton (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis.), but the Cougars went back ahead on Justin Mack's basket inside with 11:12 left, and the Muskies would never lead again.

Lakeland missed 13 of its final 16 field goal tries down the stretch and also committed seven turnovers in that span. Concordia, meanwhile, built the lead up to seven when Mitch Pellisier made two free throw to make it 64-57 with 8:02 left, and the Muskies would only get it below six one more time the rest of the game.

Brandon James (Jr.-Rockford, Ill.) scored 22 points, with 18 coming in the first half. McNeal also added 17 points and 13 rebounds and Eric Nygaard (Jr.-Plymouth, Wis.) chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds. Lakeland shot 23 of 67 for the game, including just 11-for-35 in the second half (31.4%).

Mitch Pelissier scored 17 points and added seven rebounds to lead the Cougars, who shot 45.8% (27 of 59). Justin Saar scored 15 and Rodrigo Nava added 13 points, six assists, four steals and four blocked shots off the bench.

The Muskies were playing for the first time since Dec. 9, when they defeated Silver Lake College in a non-conference game. Lakeland's previous two games last week were postponed.

Lakeland now has a break for the Christmas holiday and will not play again until it faces Rockford (Ill.) University at home at 4:15 on New Year's Eve.