PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Cam Jaeger (So.-Oostburg, Wis.) paced six players scoring in double figures and the Lakeland University men's basketball team showed fight and stayed in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament chase with a 99-88 win over Benedictine University Saturday afternoon.

The Muskies scored 63 second-half points, taking charge the final 20 minutes and bouncing back from an ugly loss at Dominican University less than 48 hours earlier. Lakeland improved to 12-10 overall and 6-8 in the NACC, and now sits one-half game behind Aurora University and Rockford University, both currently tied for sixth in the conference at 7-8.

The Muskies were challenged and stood their ground in an extremely physical game that took on playground-hoops levels of contact at times. The teams were whistled for a total of 49 fouls, including 30 on Benedictine (10-12 overall, 8-6 NACC), and a good share more left uncalled on both teams as the Eagles set the tone coming out aggressively from the start.

The teams were tied on 10 occasions and also swapped the lead 10 times in a rugged first half where Lakeland scored the final six points, including a jumper by Asanjai Hunter (Fr.-Racine, Wis.) for a 36-34 lead at the break. The Muskies came out fast in the second half, though, and after the teams were tied two more times early they would score eight straight points, including three-pointers by Jaeger and Hunter to go ahead 46-38.

Lakeland would never trail again, and maintained a lead between 4-8 points until the Eagles closed within 63-60 on a layup by Jeff Kratz with 10:01 left. The Muskies would begin pulling away soon after, though, with their first double-digit lead after a three by Jaeger made it 71-61 with 8:09 to play, and they would push the margin to 83-67 on a rebound and putback by Jaeger with 5:50 left.

Benedictine would still make it interesting, and a three-pointer by Trevor Montiel with 2:52 left cut Lakeland's lead to 85-81. Isaiah Hammond (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) and Jaeger would both hit two free throws each, though, and sandwiched around a layup by Christian Knox (Sr.-Ypsilanti, Mich.) the Muskies went back ahead by ten and were not seriously threatened again.

Jaeger scored 19 points and added seven rebounds and Hammond scored 18 with 12 rebounds for a double-double. Hunter and Kai Buliox (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) also both added 13 points each and Hunter added six assists, Aiden Polzin (So.-Clintonville, Wis.) scored 12, including three three-pointers in the second half, and Knox added 11 off the bench.

Lakeland shot 49.2% for the game, making 30 of 61 shots, including hitting 19 of 31 (61.3%) in the second half. The Muskies also went to the free throw line a season-high 41 times, making 30 (73.2%), and improved to 9-2 this season at home.

Montiel led the Eagles with a career-high 28 points and added eight rebounds. Benedictine shot 38.0% (30 of 79), and struggled with foul trouble a good share of the game with two players fouling out and three more with four fouls each.

Lakeland is back on the road Tuesday when it travels to take on Marian University at 7 p.m. in Fond du Lac.