MADISON, Wis. – Lakeland University overcame a seven-point deficit with less than five minutes left, finishing the game on a 19-3 run to rally for a 89-80 win over Edgewood College Saturday afternoon on the road at the Todd Wehr Edgedome.

The Muskies held the Eagles to three points in the final 4:36 and Jaxson Dillon (Jr.-Menasha, Wis.) hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:48 left. Cliff McCray (Sr.-Madison, Wis.) then made six free throws in the final 37 seconds to close the game out as Lakeland extended its winning streak to three games, improving to 6-10 overall and 5-4 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

The Muskies also finished with a split of the season series with Edgewood (4-13 overall, 3-7 NACC), avenging a loss at home to the Eagles in December. Lakeland did so by winning a game in which it trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half and was behind for more than 35 minutes.

The Muskies trailed 77-70 with 4:37 left after Drew Houtakker made two free throws, part of a 10-3 Edgewood run after Lakeland had tied the game at 67-67 on a layup by Asanjai Hunter (Jr.-Racine, Wis.). The Eagles would not make a field goal the rest of the way, though, and also struggled at the free throw line, missing four of seven free throws including the front end of a one-and-one opportunity.

The Muskies would take full advantage. Dillon converted a three-point play and Hunter made a layup with 3:05 left to get within 77-75. Parker Braun (So.-Brillion, Wis.) hit a jumper with 2:32 left, and Dillon's three with 1:48 left gave Lakeland its first lead since a 4-2 advantage 1 1/2 minutes into the game. Dillon hit another three the next time down to make it 83-79 with 1:01 left, and McCray then converted all six of his foul shots to wrap it up.

The Muskies played from behind for almost the entire first half, going down by double digits less than eight minutes in when Houtakker's layup gave the hosts a 23-13 edge with 12:14 left in the half. Edgewood took its biggest lead at 42-25 with 3:23 left in the half after a three by Isaiah Hubanks, but Lakeland suddenly caught fire and finished on a 16-3 run over the rest of the period. McCray scored eight straight points and Hunter made consecutive baskets, the last a layup with six seconds left to cut the Eagles' margin to 45-41 at the half.

McCray tied his career high with 27 points, making 7 of 12 from the field including three three-pointers plus 10 of 11 free throws. Hunter also scored 24 points for the second straight game, Peyton Mrotek (Jr.-Luxemburg, Wis.) added 16 points and Dillon finished with 13.

The Muskies finished shooting a lower percentage than Edgewood, hitting 46.9% (30 of 64) to the Eagles' 51.7% (31 of 60). Lakeland won the game at the free throw line, making 21 of 27 (77.8%) to the Eagles' 12 of 18 (66.7%), and also by committing just seven turnovers to Edgewood's 13.

Houtakker scored 21 points and added 14 rebounds to pace the Eagles, who have lost three straight and 9 of 11 since defeating Lakeland 83-78 back on Dec. 4.

The Muskies return home for their next game, facing Rockford University next Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.