A late-game three-point shooting storm by Concordia University Wisconsin spoiled a comeback attempt by the Lakeland University men's basketball team and led to the end of the Muskies' season with a 99-85 loss Tuesday night in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference quarterfinals.

The fifth-seeded Falcons hit four three-pointers in a span of 1 minute, 32 seconds late in the second half after Lakeland had whittled a 17-point deficit down to two, and Concordia closed out the game with superb foul shooting to earn the road win. CUW advanced to the conference tourney semifinals Friday, where it will face second seed Benedictine University in a semifinal game.

Concordia (15-11 overall) won the rubber game of the teams' three meetings this season by shooting 51.6% for the game, including better than 50% in both halves. The Falcons also made 24 of 26 shots from the free-throw line (92.3%), including all 12 in the final 2:35.

The Muskies (16-10 overall) couldn't match CUW's shooting, hitting 38.4% from the floor (33 of 86). It was Lakeland's second-lowest shooting percentage of the season at home, behind only a 36.1% showing against Aurora University back on Dec. 9.

The Muskies hung around throughout, though, in part by scrapping their way to 22 offensive rebounds for a 19-6 advantage in second-chance points, but never could catch the Falcons after falling behind early.

Lakeland played from behind virtually the entire night, falling behind 7-0 to start the game and never taking the lead. The Muskies trailed 50-39 at halftime and went down 58-41 early in the second half before chipping away.

Despite their shooting struggles, the hosts cut the deficit back to nine on two occasions and then appeared ready for a stretch run push after Carlos Campos (So.-Janesville, Wis.) hit a three-pointer making it 69-67 with 7:13 to play.

With the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium as loud as it had been all night, though, Concordia answered quickly. The Falcons made just five of their first 23 three-point tries in the game, but heated up when it counted most. Jake Jurss hit back-to-back three-pointers to push the lead back to eight, and after Campos hit a long bomb to get the Muskies back within 75-70, Josh Erickson hit a three-pointer for CUW. Then, Jurss hit again on the guests' next trip down, his third straight triple putting the Falcons ahead 81-70 with 5:12 left. Lakeland's drive was essentially stalled there, with Concordia's lead never dropping below nine the rest of the way.

Pat McDonald (Jr.-Port Washington, Wis.) scored 20 points and added eight assists to lead the Muskies. Shakur Jinad (So.-Chicago, Ill.) scored 15 points while Campos and Eric Nygaard (Jr.-Plymouth, Wis.) added 13 points. Nygaard also finished with 10 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end as his effort secured numerous second and third chances for Lakeland.

The Muskies hit 12 three-pointers but needed 38 shots to do so, hitting just 31.6% from long range. Lakeland also outrebounded Concordia 44-43.

Jordan Johnson scored 27 points and added 13 rebounds for the Falcons, while 6-foot-7 Andrew Fratzke also was a load to handle inside and added 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Josh Hau also scored 20 and Jurss added 19 plus seven assists.

The Muskies lost in their first appearance in the NACC Tournament since 2015, when they were defeated by Edgewood College 64-59 in the quarterfinals. Lakeland's 16 wins this season are still the most since the Muskies won 19 games in 2013-14, and the Muskies doubled their win total from eight victories a year ago. The game also was the final for two seniors: Joshuan McNeal (Chicago, Ill.) and Reggie Nimmer (Kewaunee, Wis.).

In the other NACC semifinal, sixth-seeded Edgewood College stopped No. 3 Milwaukee School of Engineering 52-47. The Eagles now will face top-seeded Aurora University in Friday's second semifinal in Aurora, Ill.

2018 NACC MBB Tournament Bracket