The series between Lakeland and Rockford dates back to 1961, and the two schools have split their last 12 contests. The teams are meeting for the second time this season, with the Muskies taking down the Regents 101-94 on the road in Rockford back on Nov. 29. Rockford won the teams' only meeting last season, posting a 92-88 victory at home Feb. 4, 2023, and the Regents also won the last matchup at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium, taking an 87-73 victory Feb. 5, 2022. The Muskies also won the first meeting ever 64-41 on Dec. 6, 1961, and won the first six meetings before Rockford's first win in Dec. 1999.

Lakeland last time out: Lost at MSOE 93-89 Saturday
The Muskies and Raiders went back and forth all night in a shootout, but MSOE took the lead for good with a quick 7-0 run in the final five minutes and sent Lakeland to its fifth straight loss. The Muskies shot 54.1% from the field, their second-highest shooting percentage of the season, and freshman Brayden Kennedy scored a career-high 23 points. The game featured 14 ties and 10 lead changes, but Lakeland dropped to 2-9 on the road this season against a schedule that has been heavily loaded with road games with 11 of the first 17 games away from the Woltzen Gymnasium.

Rockford last time out: Defeated Aurora 77-74 Saturday
The Regents made the plays down the stretch at the free throw line to edge the Spartans in another close Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game. Rockford trailed 68-67 before going back ahead on two free throws made by Noody Lacey, and the Regents would lead the rest of the way, hitting 10 of 10 from the free throw line down the stretch. Kevin Diemer scored 31 points to lead Rockford, which snapped a three-game losing streak that included losses to NACC leaders St. Norbert and Wisconsin Lutheran plus an overtime loss to Benedictine.

Recapping the first meeting: The Muskies and Regents played back in November on a Wednesday night in both teams' first conference game of the season. Lakeland outshot Rockford for the road win in a high-scoring game that included the teams combining for 109 points in the second half, including 59 for the Muskies. Lakeland also posted a huge advantage at the free throw line, making 27 of 35 from the stripe while the Regents hit just 6 of 19. The Muskies' Asanjai Hunter and Rockford's Kevin Diemer both came near triple-doubles, with Hunter finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists and Diemer totaling 30 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.