Brandon James (Jr.-Rockford, Ill.) scored 27 points to lead four players in double figures and the Lakeland University men's basketball team made enough free throws down the stretch to preserve an 86-77 win over Rockford University Saturday at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies withstood a late push by the Regents to win for the second time in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play and improved to 3-6 overall (2-4 NACC). Lakeland also defeated Rockford for the 10th time in the teams' last 11 meetings.

The Muskies were out-rebounded 43-36 and shot a lower percentage than the Regents (3-9 overall, 2-4 NACC), hitting 42.0% from the field (29 of 69) to the guests' 46.8% shooting (39 of 62).

Lakeland made hay by not giving away possessions, though, committing just 10 turnovers, and the Muskies also took the ball away from the guests 23 times. The Muskies totaled 18 steals as a team, and eight of nine players to appear in the game posted at least one steal led by Mark Gryszkiewicz (Sr.-Sussex, Wis.) with five steals.

Lakeland was able to break open a close game at halftime, taking a 20-point lead midway through the second half and then weathering a Rockford run with good free throw shooting. The Muskies were 16-for-18 from the line at one point in the game and finished 20 of 27 (74.1%), hitting enough foul shots to keep a margin as the Regents whittled the lead down to five points in the final minute.

James scored 27 points, including 16 in the first half, and hit 10 of 12 from the line. Pat McDonald (So.-Port Washington, Wis.) scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half, while Eric Nygaard (Jr.-Plymouth, Wis.) scored 14 and Joshuan McNeal (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) added 10.

The Muskies also got good performances from their bench, including from Jacob Servais (Sr.-Coon Valley, Wis.) scored a season-high seven points and added three rebounds and three blocked shots, and also helped Lakeland do a good job defensively on Zach Wallace. Rockford's 6-foot-8 forward came in averaging better than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game but was held to 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Deonte Carlton (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis.) also added six points and three steals off the bench. Rockford was led by Tony Diemer with 26 points, while Trae Blumhorst added 19 points.

The Muskies return to action Wednesday when they travel to face rival Marian University at 7 p.m. in Fond du Lac in their first game of the new year.