MILWAUKEE – Travis Kohlmann (So.-Kiel, Wis.) made a go-ahead three-pointer early in overtime and the Lakeland University men's basketball team went on to defeat Milwaukee School of Engineering 97-89 Saturday afternoon.

The Muskies played for the first time in a week and in their second straight overtime game. Coming off a dispiriting loss in overtime to Aurora University, though, Lakeland came through with the win this time and improved to 7-3 overall and 2-2 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

It was a roller coaster afternoon for the Muskies that for much of the contest followed a similar script of the Aurora game from a week earlier. Lakeland built a big lead, only to see the Raiders (5-4 overall, 2-2 NACC) wipe it out and go ahead, but this time the Muskies recovered to take control again in the extra session.

Lakeland led almost the entire first half and was ahead 50-33 after two free throws by Aiden Polzin (So.-Clintonville, Wis.) 95 seconds into the second half, but MSOE got back into the game and then some in a hurry. The Raiders went on a 30-5 run over the next 8 1/2 minutes, and a jumper by Donovan Carter gave the hosts a 62-55 lead with 9:58 left in the second half.

The Muskies came back to tie it at 65-65 on a layup by Polzin with 6:44 left and soon after went back up by four on a three-pointer by Polzin making it 73-69. Lakeland led by three in the final seconds of regulation when MSOE's Mason Dopirak was fouled on a three-point attempt with four seconds left. Dopirak made the first free throw, missed the second, and then intentionally missed the third free throw hard off the front of the rim. He grabbed the long rebound and missed a 17-footer, but Matus Dopirak flew in and tipped in the rebound to tie the game just before the buzzer.

The Raiders scored first in overtime on two free throws by Matus Dopirak, but three consecutive three-pointers put Lakeland in the driver's seat. Kohlmann hit a pair of threes, and when Cam Jaeger (So.-Oostburg, Wis.) made another the Muskies were ahead 87-82 with 2:41 left in the extra period. Lakeland never trailed again and closed the game making 8 of 10 free throws in the final 52 seconds.

Lakeland finished shooting 49.2% (31 of 63) including 13 of 30 from three-point range and 22 of 29 from the free throw line. Kai Buliox (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) scored 22 points to lead offensively, Polzin and Christian Knox (Sr.-Ypsilanti, Mich.) scored 18 points and Jaeger added 16 points.

Mason Dopirak led MSOE with 20 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The Raiders shot 34-for-75 (45.3%) but made just 7 of 29 from three-point range.

Lakeland played consecutive overtime game for the first time in nearly 40 years, since 1983. The Muskies lost at Dominican University 91-87 in extra time Nov. 23, 1983, and then fell to Marian University 89-87 in two overtimes Nov. 30, 1983.

Lakeland is now off until after Christmas and plays one more time in 2022 when it hosts Cardinal Stritch University at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30.