RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Lakeland University men's basketball team went cold after a big first half run and Concordia University Chicago caught the Muskies and then pulled away for a 79-66 victory Wednesday night in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game.
The Cougars erased an 11-point first half deficit by halftime and took control in the second half as Lakeland lost in its first game of the new year. Lakeland dropped to 5-8 overall and 3-3 in conference, while Concordia improved to 6-6 overall and 3-4 in the NACC.
The Muskies initially overcame a bumpy start to the game to go on a 26-9 run in the first half, taking a 26-15 lead after a three-pointer by
Cam Jaeger (
Jr.-Oostburg, Wis.). Lakeland had missed its first four shots of the game and committed two turnovers in the game's opening minutes, but heated up and was shooting 50% after Jaeger's three with 7 minutes, 16 seconds left in the half.
The Muskies would score just two more points the rest of the half, though, and Concordia Chicago finished the half on a 19-2 run over the final seven-plus minutes. Darrian Williams hit a jumper to give the Cougars a 27-26 lead with 3:03 left in the half, and the hosts would take a 34-28 lead into the locker room at the break after a jumper by Jordan Matthews with 11 seconds left in the half.
Lakeland hung around in the early minutes of the second half, getting within two points on two occasions, the last time at 38-36 after a basket by
Asanjai Hunter (
So.-Racine, Wis.) with 17:23 left in the game. Concordia would pull away from there, though, stretching the lead to 49-38 after two free throws by Matthews with 14:35 left and taking their largest lead when Justin Greenlee scored to make it 68-49 with 5:56 remaining. The Muskies would get no closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
Lakeland shot 36.8% for the game, making 25 of 68 shots, including 4 of 20 from three-point range. The Muskies especially struggled after the game's first 13 minutes, shooting 30.4% after hitting 11 of their first 22 shots.
Jaeger scored 15 points and added nine rebounds to lead Lakeland,
Brayden Kennedy (
Fr.-Manitowoc, Wis.) scored 12 points and and
Kai Buliox (
Jr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) added 10 points off the bench.
Concordia Chicago shot 41.4% (29 of 70) but posted a big 51-37 rebounding advantage, including a 22-2 lead in second chance points. Greenlee scored 16 points and Matthews added 12 points plus three steals. Ian Ravagnie also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and Jacob Collicott added 10 boards.
The Muskies are on the road again Saturday when they travel to face St. Norbert College at 2 p.m. in De Pere.
