PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Jaxson Dillon (So.-Menasha, Wis.) scored the tying basket late in regulation and Brayden Kennedy (Fr.-Manitowoc, Wis.) hit a pair of big baskets in overtime as the Lakeland University men's basketball team finally shook Illinois Institute of Technology for an 81-75 victory Wednesday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies controlled the final three minutes of the extra period and earned a much-needed victory, winning for the first time in more than a month. Lakeland snapped a seven-game losing streak and improved to 6-14 overall and 4-9 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

The Muskies won in overtime for the second time this season, this time after a battle with the Scarlet Hawks the whole way. The teams combined for 12 ties and nine lead changes, and neither led by more than eight points at any time, with both teams' largest leads coming at opposite ends of the game.

Lakeland and Illinois Tech were separated by no more than one possession for the final six minutes of regulation. The Muskies held a 67-64 lead with 2 minutes, 35 seconds left after a layup by Cam Jaeger (Jr.-Oostburg, Wis.), but the Scarlet Hawks (4-17 overall, 3-11 NACC) regained the lead at 69-67 with 59 seconds left when Andrew Veon converted a three-point play, one of four old-fashioned three-point plays by IIT in the second half.

Dillon sparked the Muskies off the bench throughout the contest with 13 points plus three steals, and he came up with the tying hoop with 49 seconds left with a driving layup to knot the score. Both teams had opportunities to take the lead in the final 32 seconds, including Jaeger's three-point attempt just before the buzzer that banged off the glass and then rattled out of the basket to send the game to overtime.

Lakeland never trailed in overtime and took over with a 9-2 run after Illinois Tech tied the game for the 12th and final time at 71-71 on a jumper by Desmond Price. Isaiah Hammond (Jr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) drove and scored to put the Muskies up 73-71, and Kennedy then hit a tough jumper in the lane to push the lead to 75-71. The teams then traded free throws, but Kennedy-who scored just four points in regulation-answered two for the Scarlet Hawks with a three-pointer from the top of the circle to make it 80-73 and give Lakeland its largest lead of the game.

Illinois Tech's biggest margin of the night came less than 3 1/2 minutes into the contest. The Scarlet Hawks came out hot, scoring the game's first eight points, including a pair of three-pointers. Lakeland needed just five minutes to draw back and take the lead on Hammond's two free throws to make it 15-14 with 11:19 left in the first half. From there, the teams spent most of the night separated by just a few points, including the Muskies holding a 32-30 lead at halftime.

Jaeger scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds, seven coming in the second half and overtime. Hammond scored 14 points and Kai Buliox (Jr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) added 11 points plus a career-high 15 rebounds.

Lakeland finished shooting 41.4%, making 24 of 58 shots, and also benefitted from a big advantage at the free throw line. The Muskies attempted 36 free throws, 19 more than IIT, and converted 26 of 36 from the line (72.2%).

Caden Gigstad led the Scarlet Hawks with 23 points and Veon added eight points plus 12 rebounds. Illinois Tech shot 37.1% (26 of 70), including just 1-for-7 in the overtime session.

The Muskies play on the road for the final time in the regular season when they travel to take on Marian University Saturday at 4 p.m. in Fond du Lac.