The Lakeland University men's basketball team closed out the home portion of its season in tough fashion with a 72-70 loss to Wisconsin Lutheran College Tuesday night in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference action.
The Muskies had no fewer than five chances to tie or take the lead in the final 1 minute 46 seconds but couldn't get over the hump. Coupled with a win by Dominican (Ill.) University in its game Tuesday, Lakeland saw its NACC Tournament hopes end with the loss and dropped to 8-15 overall (6-11 NACC).
The Muskies trailed for the game's final 28 minutes and by as much as 12 points in the second half but stayed hot on the hunt all night. Lakeland used a flurry of three-pointers to close within two points on five different occasions in the game's final 7:08, and even got within one at one point when
Brandon James (
Jr.-Rockford, Ill.) hit the first of two free throws to make it 71-70 with 1:46 left.
James saw his second free throw roll off, though, and rest of the game would include more of the same, with the Muskies tantalizingly close but unable to tie it. Lakeland missed two contested layups and a jump shot, but still had a chance when WLC's Tanner Schieve missed two free throws with 16 seconds left. A final three-point attempt by
Pat McDonald (
So.-Port Washington, Wis.) was blocked in the final seconds, though, and the Muskies never got another chance.
Lakeland recovered from a big rebounding disadvantage and shaky free throw shooting to push Wisconsin Lutheran (14-10 overall, 11-8 NACC) by hitting 10 of 24 three-pointers, tied for the team's second-best showing of the season behind the arc. The Muskies also committed just eight turnovers, half of the Warriors' total of 16, and turned those turnovers into 17 points.
WLC owned a big edge on the glass, out-rebounding Lakeland 52-30. Collin Kennedy scored 26 points and grabbed 18 rebounds and Tyler DeYoung also added 10 points and 14 rebounds, and the Warriors finished with a 15-7 edge in second chance points.
James scored 25 points to lead the Muskies and also added five rebounds. McDonald also scored 15, including four three-pointers and a team-high four assists, and
Eric Nygaard (
Jr.-Plymouth, Wis.) added 14 points and a team-leading eight rebounds.
The Muskies shot 27 of 66 (40.9%), though just 6 of 13 from the free throw line (46.2%). Wisconsin Lutheran shot 46.6% for the game (27 of 58), plus shot nearly twice as many free throws, making 15 of 24 (62.5%).
Lakeland is in action again Thursday when it travels to face Concordia University Wisconsin for a 7 p.m. tip in Mequon in a game rescheduled after being postponed from its earlier date in January.
