RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Lakeland University men's basketball team mounted a frenzied comeback in the final minutes that came up just short in an 87-82 loss to Concordia University Chicago Wednesday night at Geiseman Gymnasium.

The Muskies trailed by 12 points with just over two minutes left down but had two chances to tie late before coming up just short. Lakeland fell in its first game of 2022 and first game in 18 days, dropping to 6-6 overall and 2-3 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference games.

Concordia (4-6 overall, 2-3 NACC) led 79-64 with just over four minutes left and still held an 83-71 lead with 2:12 to play when the Muskies clawed their way back. Jequan Pegeese (Sr.-Beloit, Wis.) scored nine points and CUC committed missed the front end of a one-on-one and committed three turnovers, including a five-second violation inbounding in the backcourt with 32.2 seconds to play.

Lakeland inbounded and Cam Jaeger (So.-Oostburg, Wis.) had an open look from three-point range that was just long, but the Muskies still had another chance after an offensive rebound. Pegeese's attempt to draw contact on a three was unsuccessful and the Cougars rebounded and hit two of four free throws in the final 20 seconds to put the game away.

A big 32-9 run by CUC in the second half proved the difference, offsetting bookend runs by the Muskies at the beginning and end of the half.

Lakeland trailed 45-39 early in the second half before outscoring Concordia 16-2 over the next five minutes. A steal and layup by Travis Kohlmann (Fr.-Kiel, Wis.) gave the Muskies a 55-47 lead with 14:26 left in the game, their largest lead of the contest.

The Cougars would catch fire from there while Lakeland struggled. Jalen Meeks made three three-pointers, including a pull-up triple that put CUC ahead for good at 59-58 with 12:33 left, and Liam Cameron scored 11 straight points for the Cougars later in the run. The Muskies made just four of 17 shots and also committed four turnovers over a ten-minute stretch, and a layup by Meeks gave Concordia its largest lead at 79-64 with 4:32 remaining.

Jaeger scored 20 points to lead Lakeland, which shot 43.3% (29 of 67) including 11 of 31 from three-point range (35.5%). Aiden Polzin (So.-Clintonville, Wis.) also scored 19 points and Pegeese added 11.

The Cougars finished shooting 50.0% (30 of 60), including 10 of 23 (43.5%) from three-point range. Jordan Matthews scored 22 points, Cameron added 19 off the bench and Meeks scored 16. Concordia also outrebounded Lakeland 39-34 and finished with a 29-16 edge in bench points.

The Muskies next will host Illinois Institute of Technology on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.