PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Jequan Pegeese (Sr.-Beloit, Wis.) made the go-ahead jumper with 39 seconds left and the Lakeland University men's basketball team survived a final game-winning shot attempt to edge Concordia University Chicago 76-75 Wednesday night in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Pegeese's shot was the final of 17 lead changes in the game and Emanuel Wilson's 25-footer at the buzzer came up just short as the Muskies snapped a three-game losing streak with their fourth home win of the season by five points or less. Lakeland kept alive its slim chances at a home game in the NACC Tournament, improving to 10-11 overall and 6-8 in the conference while evening the season series with the Cougars.

The Muskies held Concordia (11-9 overall, 8-6 NACC) to just two points in the game's final 4 minutes, 14 seconds. Lakeland needed it as both teams sputtered in the final minutes, the Muskies also scoring just four points in that stretch.

Cam Jaeger (So.-Oostburg, Wis.) hit a jumper in the paint for a 74-73 lead with 3:28 to play, and it stayed that way until CUC's Wilson scored with 53.9 seconds left to put the Cougars up one. Pegeese answered with a 17-footer to give Lakeland a 76-75 lead, and the Cougars committed a turnover with 10 seconds left, with Pegeese picking off a pass and fouled with 7.1 seconds left.

Pegeese missed the front end of a one-and-one, though, and Concordia came down with a final chance to tie. The Cougars settled for Wilson pulling up from far out on the left wing, and his shot was on line but bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.

The Muskies came back from a halftime deficit for the first time all season, winning for the first time in eight games trailing at the half. Concordia led 43-36 after 20 minutes, but Lakeland rallied by shooting 53.3% (16 of 30) in the second half. The Muskies also hit 7 of 15 from three-point range after halftime, regularly getting good looks on the perimeter and finishing the game 13 of 38 from long distance (34.2%).

Lakeland came out quickly after halftime, going on a quick 13-2 run to go ahead 49-45, and neither team would lead by more than five the rest of the way. The Muskies held the largest lead of the half after Pegeese's three made it 61-56 with 11:06 left, but CUC took the lead back at 70-69 on a three by Wilson with 4:53 left, the first of six lead changes in the final five minutes.

The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than seven all night. Concordia held a slim lead much of the first half, shooting 48.6% (18 of 37) in the opening period while Lakeland hit 38.2% (13 of 34) and just 6 of 23 from three-point range.

Aiden Polzin (So.-Clintonville, Wis.) and Jaeger combined for 44 points and 10 made three-pointers, including Polzin scoring 24 with six triples and Jaeger adding 20 with four threes. Pegeese and Kai Buliox (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) added 11 points each and the Muskies finished making 45.3% of their shots (29 of 64) and committed just seven turnovers.

Wilson scored 14 points to lead the Cougars, who finished shooting 45.5% (30 of 66) and outrebounded Lakeland 41-31. Concordia also posted a 42-22 advantage in points in the paint but made just 7 of 28 from three-point range (25.0%).

Lakeland has two regular season games remaining before the NACC Tournament and next travels to face Benedictine University Saturday at 4:15 p.m. in Lisle, Ill.