PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University men's basketball team recovered from an early 10-point deficit and earned its first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win of the season, defeating Dominican University 82-70 Saturday afternoon at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
In a battle of NACC teams both looking for their first win, the Muskies used their defense to take the lead and then stayed a couple steps ahead of the Stars in the second half to win for the second time in three days, including a non-conference win over Greenville (Ill.) University Thursday. Lakeland improved to 5-2 overall and is 1-1 in the NACC, while Dominican dropped to 4-3 overall and 0-2 in conference.
The Stars came out hot and led 19-9 just over seven minutes into the game, hitting nine of their first 15 shots. The Muskies chipped away, though, in part due to holding Dominican to just five points in the last 9 minutes, 37 seconds of the half. Lakeland also took advantage of 11 Stars turnovers, turning them into 13 points, and the Muskies closed the half on a 9-0 run to take a 40-32 lead into the break.
Lakeland then came out on fire to start the second half, with
Aiden Polzin (
So.-Clintonville, Wis.) hitting three three-pointers in the first 3:22 after the half.
Christian Knox (
Sr.-Ypsilanti, Mich.) and
Isaiah Hammond (
So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) also added triples, and two Polzin free throws gave the Muskies their largest lead at 56-38 with 14:34 left in the game.
Dominican made a couple runs to put some pressure on, including a 12-1 spurt to draw within 57-50 with still 11:30 left. Lakeland had the answers in the second half, though, often coming from Knox, who scored 14 of his 19 points after halftime. The senior guard hit three straight tough baskets in the paint to give the Muskies a 65-50 lead, and Lakeland responded again late, holding the Stars to just three points in the final minutes after the Stars closed back within 75-67 following two Robert Taylor free throws with 3:33 left.
Polzin finished with 17 points and
Kai Buliox (
So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) and Hammond both also added double-doubles, with Buliox finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds and Hammond adding 11 points and a game-high 12 boards.
The Muskies finished shooting 43.1%, making 31 of 72 shots, but outrebounded the Stars 45-39, including 19 offensive rebounds. Lakeland also hit 10 three-pointers in 28 tries (35.7%), seven more triples than the guests who made 3 of 18 from long distance.
Andre Bennett led Dominican with 16 points. The Stars outshot the Muskies, hitting 30 of 65 from the field (46.2%) but committed 20 turnovers and were 7 of 12 from the foul line.
Lakeland is on the road for its next game Tuesday when it travels to face Moody Bible Institute for a 6 p.m. tip in Chicago.
