NEW ULM, Minn. – Asanjai Hunter (Jr.-Racine, Wis.) scored 21 points but the Lakeland University men's basketball team was unable to slow down a red-hot freshman and fell to Martin Luther (Minn.) College 91-79 Tuesday night at MLC's Luther Student Center.

Martin Luther freshman Adam Loberger scored 36 points, his second time in four games scoring at least that many points, and the Knights defeated the Muskies for the second time in the teams' 10 meetings, in the non-conference series that has become a regular on the Lakeland schedule of late with the teams playing nine times over the last 13 years.

The Muskies (0-4 overall) spent much of the game chasing Martin Luther (2-2 overall), and fought back from an 11-point second half deficit to get within a point on four occasions. Every time Lakeland would close back in, though, the Knights would answer with a big basket or a clutch three-pointer to derail the comeback.

MLC scored eight straight points to lead 56-45 with 14 minutes, 58 seconds left in the game when the Muskies answered with 10 straight points, capped by Parker Braun (So.-Brillion, Wis.) scoring in the paint to make it 56-55. The teams then traded baskets for the next four minutes, and a layup by Tim Ward (Jr.-Plainfield, Ill.) brought Lakeland within 62-61 with 9:06 left.

The game would turn for good over the next three minutes, though, as the Knights ran off 11 straight points. Benjamin Vasold hit a three-pointer to start the run and Loberger's fast break layup with 6:20 left put Martin Luther ahead 73-61. The Knights would lead by as much as 15 and would maintain a double-digit lead the rest of the game.

The Muskies led by five in the game's early going as Hunter scored eight of the team's first 11 points, including a pair of three-pointers, but MLC came back on a 20-4 run to go ahead 26-15 with 10:17 left in the first half after a three-pointer by Loberger. The Knights eventually led by as much as 13 in the opening half, though Lakeland rallied to within 44-37 at the half.

Hunter made 7 of 13 shots from the field, including 3 of 5 from three-point range plus all four of his free throws. Ward also scored 18 points and Isaiah Hammond (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) added 12 points plus 10 rebounds.

Freshman Emmitt Konieczny (Marshfield, Wis.) also added a season-high nine points, making three three-pointers. The Muskies shot 45.6%, making 31 of 68 shots including 8 of 20 from three-point range.

Loberger made 13 of 19 shots from the field, including 3 of 5 from long range plus 7 of 8 from the foul line. The Wisconsin native from Appleton debuted with 38 points against Lakeland's Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference rival Rockford University and is averaging 29.3 points through his first four games.

Ethan Kjenstad also added 16 points. MLC shot 48.3% (29 of 60) and hit 26 of 31 from the free throw line (83.9%), and also outrebounded the Muskies 34-30.

Lakeland is back home for its next game Friday when it hosts Buena Vista (Iowa) University at 5 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.