Lakeland/MSOE Game Notes   PDF

The Lakeland University men's basketball team (6-8 overall, 4-5 NACC) will try to turnaround a January spin against a foe that has had its number of late when it welcomes Milwaukee School of Engineering (7-7 overall, 4-5 NACC) for a 2 p.m. tip Saturday at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Broadcast Information: Live audio/video/statistics are all available to follow along with at http://www.lakelandmuskies.com/muskieslive. Andy Damp is again calling the play-by-play for all home basketball games this year.

Series history: 100th meeting, Lakeland leads 65-34

Though the Muskies hold a commanding lead over Milwaukee School of Engineering in the all-time series, the Raiders have had their number of late, winning the last ten meetings. That includes a 95-70 win just two weeks ago in Milwaukee, plus a sweep of two games last year, with MSOE winning 96-84 here at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium in the last game of 2018 on Dec. 22, and then posting an 82-72 win in Milwaukee just three weeks later on Jan. 12, 2019.Lakeland last defeated the Raiders twice in the 2014-15 season, including most recently a 91-70 win at MSOE Jan. 21, 2015. The series dates all the way back to 1934-35, when MSOE won the first meeting 26-14. 

Lakeland last time out: Lost at Edgewood 71-69 Wednesday

Lakeland nearly rallied from a 14-point deficit in the final five minutes but ran out of time in its comeback. The Muskies had a three-point attempt to win at the buzzer but dropped their fourth straight in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference in January, including their third straight by four points or less. Zach Hasenstein led Lakeland with 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Trenton Nickel also scored 15 points, hitting 3 of 4 from three-point range, Isaac Anderson scored 14 and added five assists and three blocked shots, and Jequan Pegeese added 12 points. The Eagles gained a split of the teams' season series, avenging a loss to the Muskies in December.

MSOE last time out: Defeated Wisconsin Lutheran 78-69 Wednesday

The Raiders picked up a statement win on Wednesday, toppling a Wisconsin Lutheran team that was previously in first place in the NACC. MSOE came back from a 39-33 halftime deficit, outscoring the Warriors 45-30 in the second half and taking the lead for good during a 20-3 run in the middle stages of the half. The Raiders shot 49.2% from the field and also took advantage of 20 WLC turnovers to win their second straight and for the fourth time in their last six games. Matthew Kirmse scored 22 points and Travis Ballard added 15 for MSOE, which scored all but three of its 29 field goals inside the three-point line.

About the Raiders: MSOE got off to a tough start to the season that included an early four-game losing streak in NACC play, a surprise for a team that finished 21-5 last year and tied Concordia Wisconsin for the regular season title. The Raiders have started to rebound of late, winning three of their last four in the NACC. MSOE was the preseason favorite in the conference's poll of conference coaches and sports information directors, and the Raiders have the defending NACC Player of the Year in Kirmse, who is averaging 17.1 points per game.

Recapping the first meeting: MSOE looked more like the conference favorites against Lakeland in the teams' first matchup on Jan. 4, racing out to a 27-point halftime lead on the way to a convincing victory. The Raiders outscored the Muskies 62-20 in the paint, shot 52.7% for the game and also outrebounded Lakeland 50-28. MSOE led by as many as 39 points, though the game was a breakout performance for Muskies freshman Tylan Huff, who scored 15 points and since has become a regular in the rotation with 11 three-pointers in his last four games.