MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin Lutheran College got a three-pointer from Chase Nowak with 1:35 left to go ahead for good, completing a rally from 16 points down to sting the Lakeland College men's basketball team 77-74 Wednesday night in a crucial Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game.

The Warriors moved into good position to earn one of the three remaining open spots in the NACC Tournament, a full game ahead of the Muskies with one regular season game remaining. Lakeland, meanwhile, is now in the unenviable position of possibly needing a win over undefeated Benedictine (Ill.) University Saturday night plus some help if it wants to get into the tourney.

Lakeland (13-11 overall, 9-10 NACC) rode a blazing-hot first half to a 44-33 halftime lead and pumped the lead up even higher, going ahead by 16 at 51-35 after a three-pointer by Brandon Hagenow (Sr.-Sussex, Wis.) with 17:46 left in the second half.

The Muskies still led by 12 when Tanner Hackl (Sr.-West De Pere, Wis.) hit a jumper with 12:02 remaining for a 61-49 lead, but the Warriors (12-12 overall, 10-9 NACC) followed with 13 straight points to take their first lead since the early minutes. The teams then swapped the lead four times and were tied on four other occasions over the final seven minutes.

WLC took the lead for good on Nowak's three-pointer and then got a layup by Collin Kennedy with 25 seconds remaining for a 75-72 lead. Pat McDonald (Fr.-Port Washington, Wis.) came back with a layup, but the Warriors converted two free throws with eight seconds left to go ahead 77-74.  Lakeland had one final chance to tie but missed a three-pointer with two seconds remaining.

The loss spoiled a terrific performance for more than a half by the Muskies, who shot 60% in the first half (18 of 30) and led by as many as 15 in the first 20 minutes. Brandon James (So.-Rockford, Ill.) scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the first half while Hagenow also added nine of his 14 points.

Joshuan McNeal (So.-Chicago, Ill.) also scored 12 points in the game and Hackl added 11 points. Lakeland shot 52.9% for the game (27 of 51), including 8 of 20 from three-point range and 12 of 14 at the foul line (85.7%).

Nowak led the Warriors with 20 points while Kennedy added 17. Wisconsin Lutheran shot 43.8% (28 of 64) but posted a big 38-25 rebounding advantage, including 16 offensive boards.

Lakeland will host third-ranked Benedictine on Saturday at 6 p.m. The game will be Senior Night for three seniors, including Hackl, Hagenow and Zach Van Engen (Sheboygan Falls, Wis.).