CHICAGO – A slow start to the second half was the difference as the Lakeland University men's basketball team was defeated by Illinois Institute of Technology 84-66 Saturday afternoon at IIT's Keating Sports Center.

The Muskies missed an opportunity to improve their chances of making the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament and remain one game out of a tie for eighth place with two games left. Lakeland will need to win at least one of its final two games and will also need help to grab one of the eight spots in the NACC Tournament.

The Muskies (7-16 overall, 6-10 NACC) only led briefly in the game's early stages but trailed just 43-37 at halftime after finishing the half with a jumper by Gage Cornell (Jr.-Manitowoc, Wis.) and two free throws by Isaiah Hammond (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.). Lakeland scored right out of halftime too on a layup by Hammond to make it 43-39, but the Muskies would then go scoreless for more than six minutes and without a field goal for more than seven minutes.

Illinois Tech (4-19 overall, 3-13 NACC) scored 15 straight points, taking a 58-39 lead with 13:31 left on two free throws by Joshua Iguade. The Scarlet Hawks continued to pull away and built their largest lead when DeAndre Vortes scored on a fast break layup to make it 67-44 with 12 minutes left in the game.

Lakeland chipped away and got within 12 points on two occasions, first on a three-pointer by Camren McIntosh (So.-Racine, Wis.) and the last time after a layup by Hammond to make it 73-61 with 6:14 left. The Muskies would go on another drought though, more than 4 1/2 minutes without a field goal and IIT pushed the lead back up to 20 late.

The cold spells were part of one of Lakeland's toughest shooting days of the season. The Muskies shot 37.1%, making 23 of 62 shots, well below the team's 45.1% mark on the season coming in.

Illinois Tech also posted a 45-34 rebounding advantage and posted a 20-2 advantage in fast break points. The Scarlet Hawks shot 46.0% (29 of 63) from the field and also made 19 of 22 free throws (86.4%).

Hammond led the Muskies with 15 points and Asanjai Hunter (Jr.-Racine, Wis.) added 10 points plus seven rebounds. Tim Ward (Jr.-Plainfield, Ill.) also added seven rebounds.

Vortes led Illinois Tech with 26 points, one of five scoring in double figures for the Scarlet Hawks. Jace Gooley scored 17 points off the bench and Nick Galati added 15 as IIT posted a 42-18 advantage in points from the bench on its Senior Day.

The Muskies are on the road again Wednesday when they travel to face Aurora University at 7 p.m. in Aurora, Ill.