APPLETON, Wis. – Cliff McCray (Sr.-Madison, Wis.) made a go-ahead three-pointer early in overtime and the Lakeland University men's basketball team held on the rest of the way to slip by Lawrence University 102-98 Saturday afternoon at Lawrence's Alexander Gymnasium.

McCray scored 22 points to lead five double-figure scorers, Asanjai Hunter (Jr.-Racine, Wis.) added 20 points in his first game back from injury and the Muskies won their final non-conference game of the season. Lakeland improved to 3-9 overall and also is 2-0 in overtime contests this season, having also defeated Dominican University in extra time for its first win of the season in December.

The Muskies led almost the entirety of the second half, including the biggest lead of the game for either team of nine points with 12 minutes left. The Vikings (4-9 overall) would rally to tie twice late, both teams weathered dry spells in the final minutes of regulation, but Lakeland regained the lead early in overtime and then made 10 of 12 free throws in the final 46 seconds to complete the win.

Lawrence tied the game at 85-85 on a layup by Nicholas Gouriotis with 2:34 left in the second half, and both teams had multiple opportunities to take the lead in the final minutes. The Vikings' Nathan Valentine missed a three-pointer with 17 seconds left to give the Muskies a final chance, but Hunter's driving layup was off just before time expired.

Lawrence scored first to start the overtime, with a layup by Casey Schoenecker giving the hosts their first lead since early in the second half, but McCray answered with a three with 4:13 left in the extra period. Lakeland would never trail again, even as the Vikings closed back within a point on three more occasions, the last time at 94-93 on a layup by Schoenecker with 1:26 to play.

Lawrence had a possession to tie with under a minute left, but Jaxson Dillon (Jr.-Menasha, Wis.) came up with a steal, and Peyton Mrotek (Jr.-Luxemburg, Wis.) was fouled and made one of two free throws. Mrotek then rebounded a missed jumper by Valentine and made two foul shots to make it 97-93 with 25 seconds left, and Hunter hit two more free throws eight seconds later to push the lead to six.

Valentine made two free throws with 11 seconds left, and then scored after a Muskies backcourt turnover to get the Vikings within 99-97. Hunter hit one of two free throws with 6.8 seconds left, and Lawrence's Hogan Demovsky was fouled with four seconds left. He made the first free throw, missed the second intentionally, but Mrotek rebounded and then made two free throws for the game's final margin.

Offense was aplenty throughout the contest, with both teams shooting better than 53%. Lakeland hit at a 56.9% clip, making 41 of 72 shots and also committing just seven turnovers. Lawrence shot 53.6% (37 of 69), including 13 of 28 from three-point range (44.8%).

The Vikings opened the game red-hot from long range, making three triples in the first 1:35 to take an early 9-2 lead. That would be their biggest lead of the game, and the contest settled down into a back-and-forth throughout the first half, with Lawrence carrying a 42-41 lead into halftime.

The Vikings briefly took a three-point lead just over a minute into the second half, but Parker Braun (So.-Brillion, Wis.) tied it at 46-46 on a three-pointer and the Muskies took the lead at 50-48 on a layup by McCray with 16:55 left in the second half. Lakeland would not trail again the rest of regulation, and took its biggest lead when McCray's three-pointer made it 67-58 with 12:47 to go in the second half.

McCray made 10 of 16 shots from the field and also added six rebounds. Dillon also scored 18 points, Mrotek tallied 17 plus a team-high seven rebounds and Isaiah Hammond (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) added 16 points.

Valentine paced Lawrence with a game-high 32 points, hitting 11 of 17 field goals including five three-pointers. Demovsky and Landon Key both added 15 points each, including Demovsky canning four three-pointers. The Vikings, members of the Midwest Conference, dropped to 0-5 this year against Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference teams, having also lost to Dominican, St. Norbert College, Marian University and Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Lakeland gets into the heart of its NACC schedule starting Wednesday, when it hosts Milwaukee School of Engineering at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.