MENOMONIE, Wis. – The Lakeland University men's basketball team fell behind big early and had a frigid shooting night in falling to the University of Wisconsin-Stout 97-57 Monday night in a non-conference game.

The Muskies stepped out of Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play to make up a contest postponed earlier in the season but were as cold as the December temperatures. Lakeland made just 19 of 69 shots from the field for 27.5% shooting and was even colder from long range, making 6 of 34 three-point tries (17.6%) in falling to 4-4 on the season.

The host Blue Devils (6-2 overall) of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference raced out to a 50-23 halftime lead that included a 30-3 run early. UW-Stout made 10 of 11 shots at one point, while the Muskies missed 15 of 16 shots and also committed seven turnovers in the run over more than nine minutes.

Lakeland never got back into the game as Stout shot 50.0% for the game (39 of 78), including in both halves. The Blue Devils outscored the Muskies 54-24 in the paint and posted a 22-2 advantage in points off turnovers. Lakeland fell behind behind by as much as 30 in the first half and by 44 points midway through the second half.

Jequan Pegeese (Sr.-Beloit, Wis.) supplied one bright spot for the Muskies with 13 points and made 5 of 9 field goals and both free throw attempts. Kai Buliox (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) scored 11 points and added six rebounds while also making 7 of 10 free throws. Cam Jaeger (So.-Oostburg, Wis.) also added 11 points and six boards and Greg Barber (Sr.-Miami, Fla.) added 10 points plus a game-high eight rebounds.

Lovell Williams scored a game-high 18 points for the Blue Devils, who also posted a 57-38 rebounding advantage. Fifteen different players scored for UW-Stout, which received 49 points from its bench.
 
Lakeland is back home Saturday when it welcomes Aurora University for a 4:15 p.m. tip-off at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.