LISLE, Ill. – The Lakeland University men's basketball team again saw a valiant last-ditch rally come up just short in a 67-62 loss at Benedictine University Saturday at the Rice Center.

The Muskies trailed by ten points with less than two minutes left but had a shot to tie with 38 seconds left before their comeback ran out of steam. Lakeland lost on the road by five points or less for the fifth time this season and dropped to 10-12 overall and 6-9 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference with one regular season game remaining. The Muskies also slipped out of the running for a home game in the NACC Tournament and will be on the road in their first round game next Saturday against an opponent to be determined.

Benedictine (11-11 overall, 10-6 NACC) appeared to be in control when it opened up a 65-55 lead on a layup by Marvin Agwomoh with 1 minute, 55 seconds left in the game. Lakeland would score seven straight points, though, including two free throws by Cam Jaeger (So.-Oostburg, Wis.), a three-point play by Kai Buliox (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) and a jumper by Jaeger, the latter with 54 seconds left closing the Muskies within 65-62.

The Eagles committed a pair of turnovers in that stretch to give Lakeland life, and the hosts then missed the front end of a one-and-one with 54 seconds left to give the Muskies a chance to tie. A three-point try by Earl Lewis (Jr.-Madison, Wis.) with 38 seconds to play was off, though, and Nick Kosich made the first of two free throws to push Benedictine's lead to 66-62. Kosich missed the second, but Agwomoh grabbed the rebound, Trevor Montiel was fouled with 31 seconds left and made one of two free throws for the final margin.

The Muskies played from behind most of the game, including trailing by 11 late in the first half, but came back to take the lead in the second half and were ahead 52-47 after Jaeger hit a three-pointer with 10:46 left in the game. The Eagles would go on an 18-3 run to take control, though, holding Lakeland to just one field goal in a stretch of more than nine minutes.

The Muskies hung in despite shooting 35.1% (20 of 57) and being outrebounded 48-29. Lakeland made 12 of 30 from three-point range (40.0%), took advantage of 15 Benedictine turnovers and was helped by the Eagles making just 10 of 20 from the free throw line.

Jaeger finished with 18 points, Aiden Polzin (So.-Clintonville, Wis.) scored 16 and Buliox added 15 points. Isaiah Hammond (Fr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) led Lakeland with seven rebounds and Jequan Pegeese (Sr.-Beloit, Wis.) added three steals.

Montiel scored 14 points off the bench to lead Benedictine, which hit 44.6% (25 of 56) from the field and outscored the Muskies 30-12 in the paint. Kosich added eight points plus a game-high 13 rebounds.

Lakeland closes the regular season Wednesday with Senior Night when it hosts Marian University at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.