The Muskies and Eagles have split their last four meetings, including both teams holding serve at home last season. Lakeland held off Edgewood 74-71 on Dec. 20, 2019 in the last meeting at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium, while the Eagles edged the Muskies 71-69 in the most recent meeting in Madison Jan. 15, 2020. Before that, Lakeland had won seven of eight in the series, which dates back to 1981. The series has included several streaks, as  the Muskies won the first six meetings before the Eagles responded with eight straight wins.

Lakeland last time out: Defeated Finlandia 101-66 Tuesday

The Muskies dominated the Lions in the their non-conference matchup almost from the tip-off, scoring 60 points in the first half and building a 34-point halftime lead before putting it on cruise control. Lakeland  shot 52.8% for the game, repeatedly getting free for layups, and six players scored in double figures led by Cam Jaeger with 17 points. Maxwell Alfred also scored a career-high 15 points off the bench, hitting three three-pointers.

Edgewood last time out: Lost at MSOE 64-58 last Saturday

The Eagles lost a pair of close games to the Raiders last weekend, including Saturday's contest which came down to the final minute. The teams were tied with less than two minutes left but MSOE scored eight of the game's final 10 points as Edgewood went without a field goal for the final 4:24. Jake Negus scored 12 points and Jake Graf added 10 for the Eagles, but Edgewood was outrebounded 42-29 and lost its third straight Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference North Division game.

About the Eagles: Edgewood has played eleven games this season, the most of any NACC team, and was the only conference team to play a game in the first semester. The Eagles started off division play with three straight wins before losing their last three.

Edgewood finished 8-17 last season and at 7-13 in the NACC tied for ninth in the conference standings. Three starters returned for ninth-year coach Justin Meyer, and 6-foot-7 transfer Jake Schroeckenthaler has been one of the top newcomers in the NACC. The transfer from NAIA Viterbo University in La Crosse is averaging 16.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game off the bench and shoots 61.4% from the floor. Jake Negus also scored 16.1 points per contest, and those two lead a group that shoots 47.0% as a team and is second to Lakeland in total three-pointers made (77).

Lakeland among Division III leaders: The Muskies rank in the top 20 in NCAA Division III in four statistical categories not surprising for an offense-oriented team, plus a fifth category that very much might surprise. Lakeland is eighth in D-III in three-pointers made per game (11.7) and also in the top 15 in free throw percentage (13th, 77.1%) and three-pointers made (15th, 105). The Muskies also rank 18th in assists per game (17.9), but an area where the team also ranks high is in blocked shots. Despite regularly playing four guards and sometimes no one taller than 6-3, Lakeland is 17th nationally with 35 blocked shots, including seven from 5-8 guard Jequan Pegeese.