WAUWATOSA, Wis. – Peyton Mrotek (Sr.-Luxemburg, Wis.) scored a career-high 21 points but the Lakeland University men's basketball team came up short on the road in an 84-74 loss at Wisconsin Lutheran College Saturday afternoon in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.

The Muskies also received 16 points off the bench from freshman Adison Mittelstadt (Mayville, Wis.) were within four points late but unable to get over the hump against the defending NACC champions. Lakeland dropped to 2-5 overall and is 0-3 in the NACC early in the conference season.

The Muskies found a way to hang around in a game where they were outrebounded by 20 and saw leading scorer Asanjai Hunter (Sr.-Racine, Wis.) slowed by foul trouble. Mrotek made 8 of 14 shots against his former team in bettering his career high of 18 set last season, and Mittelstadt added a season-best 16 points, more than the 10 points he scored combined in the team's first six games, plus four rebounds and four assists off the bench.

Delon Zollicoffer-White (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) also scored a Lakeland career-high 10 points, making 4 of 5 shots from the field and both of his free throw attempts. Mittlestadt and Zollicoffer-White led Lakeland to a season-high 27 points from its bench.

Wisconsin Lutheran (3-5 overall, 1-1 NACC) led 44-36 at halftime after closing the half strong with an 11-2 run after the teams traded the lead 13 times and were tied on 10 occasions in the first 20 minutes. The Warriors never trailed again, but the Muskies were down just 64-61 with 8:05 to play after a jumper by Mittelstadt and still were within 72-68 after a Mittlestadt three with 4:49 to play.

WLC finally took control in the final minutes with an 8-0 run capped by an offensive rebound and putback by Austin Wagner making it 80-68 with 2:27 left, the Warriors' 27th offensive rebound of the game. Lakeland drew back within 80-74 after a Mrotek three with 1:20 remaining but got no closer.

The Muskies finished shooting 40.6%, making 26 of 64 shots from the field. Hunter gave Lakeland four in double figures with 10 points in 25 minutes, but fouled out with 8:29 left in the game and was held well below his average of 22.5 points per game coming in. Parker Braun (Jr.-Brillion, Wis.) also added seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Sam Hans scored 15 points and Ben Lubbers and Trey Luehring added 14 points each for Wisconsin Lutheran, which shot 39.2% (29 of 74) but outrebounded Lakeland 54-34.

Lakeland has a break from games for final exams next week before hosting Marian University Saturday at 3:15 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.