Eric Nygaard (Jr.-Plymouth, Wis.) scored a career-high 22 points and the Lakeland University men's basketball team used a late burst to pull away from Finlandia (Mich.) University for a 90-78 win Sunday afternoon in a non-conference game at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies helped themselves greatly by limiting turnovers and making their free throws, and both put them in position to win a close game down the stretch. Lakeland rebounded from a loss the day before and earned the victory Sunday in a game being made up after originally being postponed in December.

The Muskies (5-9 overall) outscored the Lions 14-4 over a stretch late in the game, turning a tenuous 69-67 lead into a double-digit margin. Finlandia (3-11 overall) never got closer than 10 points again the rest of the way, finally tailing off in a game that was nip and tuck for more than 30 minutes.

The teams traded the lead 10 times and were tied on six other occasions, and the guests from the Upper Peninsula led for a good share of the first half and held a 42-41 halftime lead after Brandon Robinson's three-pointer just before the half.

Lakeland started the second half quick, though, outscoring Finlandia 16-4 out of the break to take a 57-46 lead. The Lions were not done, though, and chipped away at the Muskies' lead, closing within two on Terrance Fuller's layup with 7:51 left.

Deonte Carlton (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis.) hit two free throws with 7:03 left to push Lakeland's lead back to four, starting a 7-0 spurt. Brandon James (Jr.-Rockford, Ill.) hit a three-pointer and Joshuan McNeal (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) added a jumper and also drew a charge on the defensive end.

The Muskies committed just five turnovers in the game and also made 21 of 22 free throw attempts (95.5%). That helped Lakeland survive despite permitting Finlandia to shoot 54.1% from the floor (33 of 61) and also win the rebounding battle 37-33.

Nygaard made 9 of 14 shots from the field and scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half. Nygaard also added a team-high 11 rebounds. McNeal also scored 21 and James and Pat McDonald (So.-Port Washington, Wis.) added 16 points each.

Geoff Smart scored 25 points to lead the Lions, hitting 10 of 13 shots from the field including 5 of 7 from three-point range. Marcus Geralds also added 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Lakeland returns to the court Wednesday when it hosts Marian University in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game at 7 p.m.