ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Lakeland University men's basketball team shot 60.7% in the second half to take control of a close game in the latter stages and defeat Rockford University 101-94 Wednesday night.

Three players scored at least 20 points and the Muskies won on the road in their Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener. Lakeland won its third straight game and improved to 3-2 overall, while the Regents fell to 4-2 on the season with their second straight loss.

The Muskies trailed 44-42 at halftime and by four early in the second half, but soon after made their move. A 12-2 run included Asanjai Hunter (So.-Kenosha, Wis.) making two free throws with 15 minutes, 24 seconds left in the game to put Lakeland ahead 53-52, and the Muskies would never trail again. Isaiah Hammond (Jr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) scored on a layup with 12:22 left to cap the run and put Lakeland ahead 63-54.

Rockford would close back within a point on two occasions, the last time after a layup by Micah Swanson made it 70-69 with 8:16 to play. The Regents would go scoreless over the next three minutes, though, and the Muskies went on a 12-1 run to pull away. Brayden Kennedy (Fr.-Manitowoc, Wis.) hit a three-pointer to make it 82-70 with 4:56 to play, and the Regents never got closer than six points again. Lakeland closed it out with a parade to the free throw line, making 12 of 14 from the foul line over the final 1:18 to put the game away.

The first half saw the Muskies lead for almost the entirety of the first 10 minutes, grabbing an early seven-point lead before Rockford took its first lead at 25-23 with 10:22 left in the half. The Regents would then hold the point most of the way until halftime, leading by as much as five, though there were six ties in the half.

Hunter and Aiden Polzin (Jr.-Clintonville, Wis.) led the Muskies with 21 points each, including Hunter posting a career high, and he also was close to a triple-double with a career-best 12 rebounds plus nine assists. Cam Jaeger (Jr.-Oostburg, Wis.) also scored 20 points, Kennedy added 16 and Hammond scored 13.

Lakeland finished shooting 50%, making 32 of 64 shots. The Muskies also made 10 of 26 from three-point range and 27 of 35 from the free throw line, and played Rockford to a draw on the boards with the teams tied 41-41 in rebounds.

Kevin Diemer scored a game-high 30 points and added 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Regents, who shot 48.8% (40 of 82) but made just 6 of 19 from the free throw line.

Lakeland is on the road again Saturday when it travels to face Edgewood College at 1 p.m. in Madison.