RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Cam Jaeger (So.-Oostburg, Wis.) scored a career-high 31 points and the Lakeland University men's basketball team went on a big run to close the first half but then had to hold on in the final minutes to defeat Dominican University 91-86 Saturday afternoon.

The Muskies closed the first half on a 24-4 run and led by as many as 25 points early in the second half and by 17 points before the host Stars put on a furious charge late. Lakeland would go on to earn its first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win of the season and improved to 4-3 overall (1-2 NACC).

Jaeger made 10 of 19 shots from the field, including 4 of 5 from three-point range plus all seven of his free throw attempts. He and Aiden Polzin (So.-Clintonville, Wis.) were especially hot in the first half, combining for 33 points including 17 from Jaeger as the Muskies built a 50-29 halftime lead.

Lakeland took the lead for good at 15-14 on a layup by Jaeger with 13 minutes, 18 seconds left in the opening half, built an eight-point lead and then after Dominican (1-6 overall, 0-2 NACC) closed within one hit the accelerator. Leading 26-25, the Muskies scored 22 of the game's next 24 points and maintained the 21-point lead at the break.

Lakeland led by 25 points on four occasions in the second half, still held a 22-point lead with seven minutes to play and was up 83-66 after two free throws by Jequan Pegeese (Sr.-Beloit, Wis.) with 3:11 to play. The Stars would not go quietly, though, and they trimmed the lead to eight on a layup by Jackson Smith with 50 seconds to play.

A five-point trip concluded with Smith converting a three-point play to draw within 86-81 with 29 seconds left, and Dominican got as close as three when Jacob Riedl hit a three-pointer to make it 89-86 with 18 seconds to play. Free throw shooting saved the Muskies, who made 7 of 8 from the line in the final minute, including Pegeese sinking a pair with 12 seconds left for the final score.

Polzin finished with 20 points including four three-pointers plus eight rebounds and Pegeese added 12 points, six rebounds and six assists. The Muskies finished shooting 40.0% (28 of 70) but made 11 of 24 from three-point range and 24 of 29 (82.8%) from the free throw line.

Riedl scored 21 points and added 10 rebounds to lead Dominican, which shot 45.3% (34 of 75) but shot just 11 free throws and also committed 22 turnovers.

The Muskies are back on the court Monday when they travel to face the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the makeup date of a game postponed Nov. 16. Game time on Monday in Menomonie is 6 p.m.