RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Lakeland University cut a 14-point deficit down to one point late but missed chances to tie or take the lead in the final minute and fell to Concordia University Chicago in yet another close Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference men's basketball game Saturday afternoon at Geiseman Gymnasium.

The Muskies were edged out in their attempt at a fourth straight road win in conference play, dropping to 5-11 overall and 3-6 in conference. Lakeland also missed an opportunity to tie Concordia Chicago in the NACC standings, as the Cougars improved to 5-4 in league play (6-10 overall).

The Muskies played a conference game decided by five points or less for the fifth time in nine NACC games, dropping to 2-3 in those games. Lakeland was involved in another nip-and-tuck contest this time despite not leading one time in the entire game Saturday.

The Muskies were down by eight points with less than four minutes remaining but back-to-back three-pointers by Jaxson Dillon (Sr.-Menasha, Wis.) cut the Concordia lead to 66-64, the latter coming with 2:09 left. Lakeland got even closer when Emmitt Konieczny (So.-Marshfield, Wis.) hit a three-pointer to cut the Cougars' margin to 68-67 with 1:23 left, and Konieczny's steal with 54 seconds left gave the Muskies possession with a shot at the lead.

A driving layup attempt by Peyton Mrotek (Sr.-Luxemburg, Wis.) was just off target, and after a missed shot  CUC's Aaron Brown scored after an offensive rebound with 7.5 seconds left to make it 70-67. The Muskies had one final attempt to tie, but Konieczny's turnaround three-point attempt while falling out of bounds on the left wing at the buzzer was just off the back of the rim and bounced away.

Lakeland battled despite playing from behind the whole way, including falling behind by double digits early when Sebastian Hill's jumper gave Concordia a 21-11 lead with 10:36 left in the first half. The Cougars led by as 14 late in the first half at 40-26, but layups by Mrotek and Max Justic (Fr.-Chicago, Ill.) cut the hosts' lead to 40-30 at halftime. Konieczny then hit a three-pointer to open the second half scoring, and the Muskies never trailed by double figures again but could never catch CUC despite getting within three points earlier in the half and even closer in the final minutes.

Dillon finished with 17 points and Konieczny and Justic added 12 points each. Parker Braun (Jr.-Brillion, Wis.) also added eight points and 10 rebounds plus three steals. The Muskies shot 40.0%, making 26 of 65 from the field, including 10 of 35 three-point attempts (28.6%).

Honore Yangoua led Concordia Chicago with 18 points and Brown added 14 points and 11 rebounds. The Cougars shot 44.4% (28 of 63) and outrebounded Lakeland 46-27.

The Muskies are back home for their next game Wednesday against Wisconsin Lutheran College at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.