Joshuan McNeal (
Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) scored a career-high 26 points and the Lakeland University men's basketball team got back on the winning track with a 79-62 win over Edgewood College Tuesday night in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game.
The Muskies shot a solid 53.6% from the field and took control in the game's middle stages on the way to completing a season sweep of the teams' series. Lakeland backed up its win at Edgewood in November and improved to 8-11 overall and 6-9 in the NACC.
McNeal made 10 of 15 shots from the field in an efficient offensive performance, including 3 of 5 on three-point attempts. He set the tone early with 10 straight points in the game's first 5 minutes 15 seconds and scored 14 points in the first half.
The teams swapped the lead six times and were tied four others in the early going, but the Muskies went on a 14-2 run after the midway point of the first half. Lakeland led 42-34 at halftime and then took charge for good with a quick start to the second half.
Pat McDonald (
So.-Port Washington, Wis.) hit a three-pointer and McNeal converted a three-point play for six quick points and a 48-34 lead to start the half, and the lead never fell below double digits again. McNeal eventually hit a three-pointer with 11:52 left in the game for a 61-42 lead, and the margin eventually stretched as high as 21 points.
McDonald also scored 16 points and
Eric Nygaard (
Jr.-Plymouth, Wis.) added 11 points. McNeal also finished with a team-high eight rebounds, while McDonald added five assists. Lakeland also received good contributions from its bench, with a total of seven reserves scoring, including a number of baskets at critical points of the game.
The Muskies made 30 of 56 shots, including 16 of 27 in the first half (59.3%). Lakeland also made good use of 17 Edgewood turnovers, turning them into 27 points.
Adam Freitag scored 18 to lead the Eagles, who shot 23 of 58 from the field (39.7%), including just 6 o f24 from three-point range.
Lakeland goes on the road Saturday to face Dominican (Ill.) University at 4:15 p.m. in River Forest, Ill.
