Lakeland and Aurora meet for the first and only time this season and renew an ancient series that dates all the way back to 1934-35, the Muskies' second year of basketball when the school was known as Mission House College. The series is nearly even over those many years, and the teams split two close games last season. Lakeland won the most recent meeting, taking a 103-95 victory at the Woltzen Gymnasium Jan. 14, 2023, while Aurora picked off a 97-92 overtime win back on Dec. 10, 2022 for its most recent win in the series. The teams went 42 years without playing each other before the series resumed when both became part of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference in 2006. Aurora holds an 18-12 edge in games since both joined the NACC in 2006-07, and 13 of the last 16 meetings between the schools have been decided by eight points or less.

Lakeland last time out: Lost to Concordia Wisconsin 77-65 Saturday
The Muskies saw their NACC Tournament hopes officially extinguished with a loss to the rival Falcons at home. Lakeland had one of its toughest offensive days of the season, shooting 33.3% for their second-lowest shooting mark of the season and tying for their second-lowest point total. Concordia shot 60% and took control of the game in the second half, withstanding 24 turnovers. Asanjai Hunter and Kai Buliox scored 16 points each and Hunter added four rebounds and six steals. Isaiah Hammond also added nine points and seven rebounds.

Aurora last time out: Defeated Benedictine 83-71 Saturday
Of the six NACC games Saturday, the Spartans were the only team to win at home, defeating the Eagles to keep alive hopes for a spot in the NACC Tournament. Joevonn McCottry scored 20 points and Aurora shot 50.9% for the game while holding Benedictine to 34.4% shooting. The Spartans also won the rebounding battle 41-30 to win their second straight following a seven-game losing streak that included four losses by six points or less. Aurora is 6-10 in conference, currently in 10th place but just one game back of Concordia Chicago and Dominican tied for seventh at 7-9.

Jaeger, Hammond moving up the lists: Lakeland senior Cam Jaeger joined the Muskies' 1,000-point club early this season, and he has continued to move up that list into the top 20. Jaeger enters the second-to-last game of the season with 1,350 career points, 19th all-time in program history. He is 35 points from tying Bob Guy (1965-69) for 18th on the all-time list. Jaeger also is third all-time in school history in three-pointers made with 193. He is four triples short of tying Joey Burris (2011-15) for second on the Muskies' all-time list.

Isaiah Hammond also has this season continued to move up Lakeland's all-time list for career blocked shots. The junior has 47 career blocks, sixth-most in program history. He would need 1 more blocks to move into a tie for fourth with Bill Anton (1971-74) and Martins Bondars (1993-96), both with 58 blocks in their careers.