APPLETON, Wis. – A good start for the Lakeland University men's basketball team fizzled amidst icy cold shooting in the second half and Lawrence University rallied to defeat the Muskies 82-68 Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at Alexander Gymnasium.
Lakeland made 8 of 32 shots (25.0%) after halftime. The Vikings used a big run to start the second half to take control and the Muskies were pinned with their first loss of the season in four games.
Lakeland (3-1 overall) led by as many as 13 points in the first half and held a 44-38 lead at halftime. Lawrence (3-3 overall) would outscore the Muskies 26-4 over the first eight minutes of the second half, though, including a 15-0 run to take the lead for good and ending with a layup by Ryan Panzer making it 62-48 with 12:14 left in the game.
Lakeland had shot 47.2% (17 of 36) in the first half, including making 8 of 15 from three-point range. The Muskies made just 5 of their first 27 shots after halftime, though, allowing the Vikings to build up a 79-59 margin after a layup by Parker Prahl with 3:51 left in the game.
Lawrence was efficient offensively throughout, making 52.5% of its shots (32 of 61), including better than 51% in both halves. The Vikings also outrebounded Lakeland 45-35 and posted a huge 48-20 advantage in points in the paint.
Asanjai Hunter (
Fr.-Racine, Wis.) led the Muskies with a season-best 13 points, making 5 of 10 field goals including 3 of 4 three-point tries.
Christian Knox (
Sr.-Ypsilanti, Mich.) and
Aiden Polzin (
So.-Clintonville, Wis.) added 10 points each and
Isaiah Hammond (
So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) added five points plus team highs with nine rebounds and six assists.
The Muskies finished shooting 36.8%, making 25 of 68 field goals. Lakeland hit 11 of 25 from three-point range (44.0%) but was just 7 of 15 from the free throw line (46.7%).
Matthew Kaznikov scored 17 points and led five Lawrence players scoring in double fiures. Adnan Sarancic added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Vikings won for the second time this season against a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference member, having also defeated St. Norbert College 68-56 at home Nov. 17.
The Muskies are back in action Tuesday when they open NACC play at home against St. Norbert at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
