RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Dominican University's Derek Steck hit two free throws with four seconds left in overtime and the Lakeland University men's basketball team took a tough 77-76 loss Saturday afternoon in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.

The Muskies came up short in a game that was close throughout and lost their first overtime game this year. Lakeland dropped to 8-12 overall and at 6-10 in the NACC fell two games behind fifth-place Dominican, which improved to 8-8 in conference and 11-10 overall.

Steck's go-ahead free throws came just after the Muskies had taken the lead themselves with 25 seconds left in overtime when Brandon James (Jr.-Rockford, Ill.) slipped a pass to Eric Nygaard (Jr.-Plymouth, Wis.) for a layup. Lakeland had one more chance in the final seconds but Nygaard's three-pointer at the buzzer was off and Dominican evened the season series between the two teams.

Neither team led by more than eight points the entire way in a contest that was close throughout and had 14 lead changes. The Stars came back from an eight-point deficit late in the second half, though, holding Muskies to four points in the final 5:37 of regulation and tying the game on a three-pointer by Mike Lizak with 17 seconds left.

Lakeland shot 50.0% from the field (31 of 62) and also out-rebounded Dominican 35-30. Pat McDonald (So.-Port Washington, Wis.) scored 26 points and made 10 of 14 from the field, Nygaard scored 18 and Joshuan McNeal (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) added 17 points.

The Stars shot a lower percentage than the Muskies, hitting 29 of 66 field goals (43.9%). Dominican made up the difference, though, by draining 11 three-pointers. Ben Walker hit four triples to score 15 points and Steck and Mike Lizak both added three three-pointers each.

Lakeland goes on the road again Wednesday when it travels to face Milwaukee School of Engineering at 7 p.m. in Milwaukee.