The Muskies and Knights have become familiar foes in recent years, with all but one of their meetings coming since 2012. Lakeland won the last matchup last season, pulling out a 79-73 win on the road at MLC's home in New Ulm, Minn., by scoring the final eight points of the game. The Knights earned their lone win over the Muskies Nov. 19, 2018, with a 70-60 win at home. Lakeland won the first five meetings in the series, including a 93-85 victory Nov. 19, 2017 in the last game at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium, plus a 67-52 win in the first-ever meeting Nov. 20, 2004 in Minneapolis, MInn., in the Bethel University Tip-Off Tournament.

Lakeland last time out: Won at Finlandia 106-72 last Tuesday
The Muskies cruised to an easy win in their last game a week ago, taking care of the Lions in a trip to the far northern reaches of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Isaiah Hammond finished with 12 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for his first career double-double, as well as a career-best six assists. Kai Buliox also scored 19 points, leading seven different players scoring in double figures, including freshmen Asanjai Hunter (15 points) and Gage Cornell (10) both reaching that marker for the first time in their collegiate careers. Lakeland shot 51.9%, its second straight game over 50% from the field, and also held Finlandia to 32.9% shooting and took advantage of 26 Lions turnovers.

Martin Luther last time out: Lost to Finlandia 94-91 Saturday
The Knights also faced Finlandia in their most recent game, falling at home to the Lions by three points on Saturday. A close game much of the way included eight ties and five lead changes, and Martin Luther fought back from one 11-point deficit in the second half to take the lead. Finlandia rebuilt the lead back to 11 with two minutes left but the Knights came back and had two chances to tie or take the lead in the final minute. Micah Kieselhorst scored 24 points and added nine rebounds and four blocked shots and Ezra Blumer also finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds for MLC, which shot 52.3% but committed 27 turnovers.

About the Knights: Martin Luther is off to a 0-5 start that includes a pair of lopsided losses on the road at Lakeland NACC rivals Wisconsin Lutheran (103-53) and MSOE (85-45). Four of the Knights' five losses have been by at least 23 points. MLC is a member of the NCAA Division III Upper Midwest Athletic Conference and finished 5-21 overall last year and 2-12 in UMAC play. Martin Luther is coached by Greg Holzhueter, in his seventh year in charge of the program and a 2011 alumnus of MLC where he was a four-year, three-sport standout in football, basketball and baseball.

Looking for 3-0: Lakeland is aiming to start 3-0 in a season for the first time since 2014. The Muskies got off to a 5-0 start that year, and the program record for best start to a season was set in 1971-72 and equaled in 2012-13, when Lakeland won its first seven games.