FOND DU LAC, Wis. – An early double-digit lead slipped away from the Lakeland University men's basketball team as Marian University came back in the second half for a 75-59 win Wednesday night at Sadoff Gymnasium.

The Sabres dominated the second half and pulled away in the final five minutes to defeat the Muskies for the third straight time in less than a year. Lakeland dropped to 7-8 overall, falling back below the .500 mark overall for the first time since losing its season opener, and also is now 3-5 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

The Muskies were victimized by a big second half run for the third time in four games, as the good work from a 14-point lead built late in the first half slipped away.

Marian (9-5 overall, 5-4 NACC) outscored Lakeland 47-24 after halftime, making 55.9% of its shots (19 of 34) while the Muskies struggled, shooting 32.3% (10 of 31) over the final 20 minutes.

Lakeland never trailed until the Sabres took their first lead at 48-47 on a David Britton jumper with 12 minutes, 26 seconds left in the game. Marian took the lead for good just over a minute later on a three-pointer by Delvin Barnstable, though the Muskies were still within 59-54 when Greg Barber (Sr.-Miami, Fla.) hit a three-pointer with 5:39 left.

Lakeland would get no closer, though, and would make just two more field goals the rest of the way. The Sabres went on a 16-3 run and in the final minutes their lead ballooned, with Scott Paulus's layup giving the hosts their largest lead at 75-57 with just over a minute left. In all the Sabres finished the game outscoring the Muskies 36-14 over the final 14-plus minutes.

The second half was a sudden swing after Lakeland never trailed in the first half. It was Marian getting off to a cold start early, hitting 8 of 24 shots and committing nine turnovers in the first half (33.3%). The Muskies were in control and led by as much as 14 points when Matt Sechman (Sr.-Chicago, Ill.) drilled a three-pointer to make it 35-21 with 1:18 left in the period, though the Sabres rallied with the final seven points of the half to trailed 35-28 at the break.

Tylan Huff (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) came off the bench to lead the Muskies with 14 points, including 11 in the first half. Kai Buliox (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) added 11 points and Cam Jaeger (So.-Kiel, Wis.) and Earl Lewis (Jr.-Madison, Wis.) added 10 points each. Barber also finished with nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

Lakeland finished shooting 35.4% (23 of 65) while Marian finished shooting 46.6% (27 of 58). The Sabres also hit 9 of 21 from three-point range (42.9%) and outrebounded the Muskies 41-35. Barnstable led Marian with 20 points and Britton and Tyler Gouin added 14 points each.

Lakeland is back home Saturday to host Edgewood College at 4:15 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.