The Lakeland University men's basketball team handed Benedictine University just its second Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference loss in nearly 2 1/2 years, knocking off the Eagles 81-71 Wednesday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Benedictine was defeated for just the second time in its last 47 NACC contests as the Muskies were the tougher team down the stretch and picked up a satisfying victory. Lakeland rang in the new year by improving to 8-5 overall and is now 5-4 in conference play after pinning the Eagles (7-5 overall, 6-1 NACC) with their first conference loss this season.

The Muskies led the two-time defending NACC regular season and tournament champions for the entire first half and well into the second half, but trailed 63-61 with 8 minutes 6 seconds left in the game after Kejuan Glosson made one of two free throws for the Eagles. Lakeland would dominate the rest of the way, though, outscoring Benedictine 20-4 over the next 7:15 to win going away by the end.

Joshuan McNeal (Sr.-Chicago, Ill.) tipped in a miss to put the Muskies ahead for good at 65-63, and Lakeland scored on nine of 11 trips down the court over that stretch while also holding the Eagles to just two field goals in the game's final 8:29.

Leading 71-66 after a steal and layup by Benedictine's Kenny Bogus, Lakeland wrapped it up as Pat McDonald (Jr.-Port Washington, Wis.) drained a pair of three-pointers, the second coming after a drive and kick back by McNeal to the top of the circle that made it 77-67 with 2:30 left. The Muskies pushed the lead as large as 14 with just over a minute left and the Eagles waved the white flag and emptied their bench in the final minute-plus.

Lakeland outworked Benedictine on the boards throughout the game, out-rebounding the Eagles 48-40, including 17 offensive rebounds. The Muskies held a 26-17 rebounding edge in the first half as they got off to a 9-0 jump in the game's first 1:33 and took a 45-38 lead into halftime.

Five players scored in double figures for Lakeland, with McDonald scoring 16, McNeal added 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists and Garrett Duffin (Jr.-Princeton, Ill.) adding 12 points off the bench. Carlos Campos (So.-Janesville, Wis.) also scored 12 and Eric Nygaard (Jr.-Plymouth, Wis.) added 11 points, six rebounds and three steals.

The Muskies shot 40.0% for the game, making 32 of 80 shots. Benedictine shot 45.2% (28 of 62), but just 12-for-32 in the second half (37.5%). The Eagles also made just 1 of 13 from three-point range.

Lakeland is back in action on Saturday when it travels to face Concordia University Chicago at 2 p.m. in River Forest, Ill.