PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Edgewood College used a 12-2 run in the second half to gain some separation in a close game and the Lakeland University men's basketball team fell by an 83-78 score Wednesday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Eagles broke open a tight contest to build the first double-digit lead of the game and held on after the Muskies closed within four on three occasions late. Lakeland battled throughout but remained winless on the season, dropping to 0-7 overall and 0-2 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

The Muskies shot 47.6% and received quality contributions from their bench in their closest game of the season so far. Lakeland also outrebounded Edgewood 34-31 and led briefly early in the second half before the Eagles first inched ahead and then made their move in the game's latter stages.

The Muskies trailed just 57-54 after Cliff McCray (Sr.-Madison, Wis.) hit a three-pointer with 11 minutes, 57 seconds left in the game, but would score just two points over the next 4 1/2 minutes. Edgewood (2-4 overall, 1-0 NACC) took control in that time, first with five straight points and then answered a layup by Gage Cornell (Jr.-Manitowoc, Wis.) with five more points by Trey Traeder, who hit a three-pointer and then scored on a layup to make it 69-56 with 7:08 to play.

The Eagles led 75-63 with 4:58 remaining after a three-pointer by Payton Bowser, but Lakeland scored eight points in a row capped by a tip-in and later two free throws by Tim Ward (Jr.-Plainfield, Ill.) to make it 75-71 with 2:48 left. Ward later answered an Edgewood bucket with two more free throws to get the Muskies within 77-73, and Lakeland had an opportunity to get closer but committed a turnover on a fast break. Edgewood closed the game making six of seven free throws in the final 40 seconds before McCray's three-pointer at the buzzer accounted for the game's final score.

The Muskies hung around in the first half, first lead in the game' s early stages and then coming back from a seven-point deficit to retake the lead. Camren McIntosh (So.-Racine, Wis.) hit a pair of three-pointers and Emmitt Konieczny (Fr.-Marshfield, Wis.) also added two threes, one giving Lakeland a 30-29 lead with 3:36 left in the half, the other with six seconds left in the half for a 37-37 tie at intermission.

Ward finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double and Isaiah Hammond (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) also scored 17 points and added eight boards. McCray added 15 points off the bench and McIntosh scored nine points on three three-pointers for his first collegiate points.

Traeder scored 17 points to lead five players scoring in double figures for the Eagles, who shot 29 of 58 (50.0%), including 10 of 25 (40.0%) from three-point range. Edgewood also made 15 of 20 from the free throw line (75.0%).

Lakeland is on the road for its next game Saturday when it travels to face Dominican University at 1 p.m. in River Forest, Ill.