This is the second meeting of the season between the Muskies and Illinois Institute of Technology. The Scarlet Hawks dominated the first matchup at home in Chicago, shooting 53.3% for the game and hitting 17 of 33 three-point tries in a 102-75 win three weeks ago. The teams split both of their games last season, including Lakeland winning the first at home by an 85-67 score Jan. 8, 2022, a game which the Muskies led by as much as 28 points midway through the second half. IIT has won five of seven meetings since it joined the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference for the 2018-19 season. The series dates back to Feb. 9, 1973, when Lakeland won the first meeting 93-67 at the old Armory in downtown Sheboygan.

Lakeland last time out: Lost at Wisconsin Lutheran 87-71 Tuesday
The Muskies led for a good share of the game and held an 11-point lead early in the second half, but went cold late while the Warriors heated up and took over. WLC finished the game on a 34-13 run over the final 13 minutes, including an 18-2 run to take the lead after Lakeland held a 58-53 advantage. Isaiah Hammond finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds-including a big first half with 14 points and eight boards-and Aiden Polzin added 15 points. The Muskies lost their third straight game and are 1-5 in the new year, though the team is 6-2 at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium this season and its last win came two weeks ago at home against Aurora.

Illinois Tech last time out: Lost at Edgewood 80-72 Tuesday
The Scarlet Hawks joined the Muskies as teams to fall to the Eagles on the road in the last week. Also like Lakeland on Tuesday against Wisconsin Lutheran, IIT held a sizable second half lead in its game, sitting 10 points ahead shortly after halftime and still leading by seven points with 12 minutes left. Edgewood closed the game outscoring the Scarlet Hawks 34-19 over the last 12 minutes, with big Jake Schroeckenthaler torturing Illinois Tech with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Illinois Tech was led by Caden Gigstad with 23 points and Garrison Carter added 17 points and seven rebounds. Like Lakeland, IIT also comes in having lost three straight to slip in the NACC standings after going 7-1 in its first eight league games.

Recapping the first meeting: Illinois Tech never trailed in the teams' first matchup in Chicago, and a 23-5 run in the first half gave the Scarlet Hawks a 21-point lead less than 13 minutes into the game. IIT would still lead by that much at halftime and then broke even further in front early in the second half, leading by as much as 34. While Tech was red-hot from long distance, the Muskies struggled from three-point range, making just 5 of 19. Carter scored 21 points and all five IIT starters scored in double figures, while Kai Buliox led Lakeland with 22 points.

Schedule update: Both of Lakeland's games against Concordia Chicago this season have now been canceled, and the teams' Jan. 3 game that was originally ruled an administrative forfeit has now been ruled as a non-counting result in the NACC after CUC was ruled ineligible for the conference title this season. The Muskies' forfeit win in the NACC standings has now been revoked, and Lakeland has added another game Feb. 9 at Dominican in what will be a non-conference game between the NACC foes.