DUBUQUE, Iowa – Jaxson Dillon (Jr.-Menasha, Wis.) exploded for a career-high 33 points and the Lakeland University men's basketball team pushed Loras (Iowa) College before falling 90-79 on the road Friday at the Loras Athletics and Wellness Center.

The Muskies held the lead into the second half against a Loras team that won 24 games and qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament a year ago. The Duhawks finally took the lead for good with a 14-0 run in the second half but still didn't shake Lakeland until the final minutes in the afternoon non-conference tilt.

In just his second game of the season, Dillon keyed a suddenly humming Muskies offensive attack and nearly doubled his previous career high of 17 points set last year. The junior guard made 12 of 18 shots, including 5 of 8 from three-point range, and also added four steals, all coming after going scoreless in 17 minutes in his first appearance of the season Wednesday in a win over Rockford University.

Lakeland (2-9 overall) finished shooting 48.3%, making 28 of 58 from the field, and hit a season-high 15 three-pointers in 32 attempts (46.9%). In the end, though, Loras was even more efficient, shooting 56.1% for the game (32 of 57) and also getting to the free throw line 32 times, making 23 (71.9%).

The Duhawks (7-2 overall) finally took control just after Dillon had hit his fourth three-pointer to give the Muskies a 56-53 lead with 14:58 left. Nolan Berendes hit a three-pointer to give Loras the lead for what would prove to be for good at 58-56 with 14:14 to play, and Jared Pearson's three-point play put the hosts ahead 67-56 with 11:19 remaining.

Lakeland would close back in, getting within six points twice, the last time when Gage Cornell (Jr.-Manitowoc, Wis.) split two free throws to make it 75-69 with 6:16 left. The Duhawks would effectively put it away with a 12-3 run capped by a Tyler Bass layup for an 87-72 lead with 2:45 remaining.

The first 26 minutes included 20 lead changes plus six ties, and the Muskies led for a good portion of the first half. Lakeland took its largest lead at 23-13 when Cornell hit a pair of free throws just over eight minutes in, and the teams went into halftime tied 42-42 after both teams shot better than 53% in the opening 20 minutes.

Emmitt Konieczny (Fr.-Marshfield, Wis.) scored 12 points and joined Dillon in the three-point barrage, making four three-pointers. Parker Braun (So.-Brillion, Wis.) added 10 points and Cliff McCray (Sr.-Madison, Wis.) scored nine points.

Pearson and Jack Haynes scored 20 points each to lead the Duhawks, who featured five scoring in double figures with Gavin Sarvis also scored 15 points, Bass totaling 14 and Alex Singleton adding 12. Loras also finished with a 33-21 rebounding advantage and posted a 52-18 advantage in points in the paint.

Lakeland is now idle until the new year, with more than two weeks until its next game Jan. 4, 2025 at Lawrence University in Appleton at 3 p.m.