The Muskies hold the all-time series lead, but their lead has shrunk in recent years as the Warriors have won 15 of the last 18 meetings, including the teams' matchup earlier this season in Milwaukee when Lutheran pulled away late for an 84-74 victory on Dec. 6. WLC also won both matches last season, though both were close with the Warriors taking a 90-78 win at home on Jan. 29, 2025 after scoring 62 points in the second half, and also winning 87-84 at Lakeland in both teams' regular season finale Feb. 22, 2025. Lakeland's last win in the series came nearly four years ago at home with a 77-75 victory Jan. 26, 2022, when Cam Jaeger made the go-ahead three-pointer with 29 seconds remaining. The series dates back to Jan. 27, 1982, when Lakeland won the first meeting 131-54, and the Muskies won the first 10 meetings before WLC's first win in the series in Jan. 1990.

Lakeland last time out: Lost at Concordia Chicago 70-67 Saturday
The Muskies cut a 14-point deficit down to one point late but came up just short on the road in River Forest. Lakeland trailed by eight points with less than four minutes remaining but rallied to within a point after Emmitt Konieczny's three-pointer with 1:23 left, and the Muskies had a chance to take the lead and also still a chance to tie at the buzzer, but a three-point try as time expired was just off. Jaxson Dillon scored 17 points and Konieczny and Max Justic both added 12 points each. Parker Braun also added eight points and 10 rebounds.

The season has become one full of close games for the Muskies, who played their fifth Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game decided by five points or less. Lakeland is 2-3 in those games, and including non-conference play is 4-3 overall on the season in seven games decided by five or less.

Wisconsin Lutheran last time out: Lost at Benedictine 61-58 Saturday
The Warriors fell in narrow fashion on the road to the Eagles, coming up just short in a game that was close throughout. The teams were separated by no more than six points the entire second half, but WLC was unable to get over the hump despite multiple possessions to take the lead in the final minute. Sam Hans scored 15 points and Lucas Anamndu and Bryce Appel added 14 points each, but Lutheran shot 31.1% for the game, including 25% in the second half.

A year after going to the NCAA Division III Tournament round of 16, WLC has had a tough year and in fact hasn't won since defeating Lakeland in early December, dropping seven straight coming into tonight. The Warriors are again led by head coach Aaron Aanonsen, who coached at Lakeland from 2008-17 and is the second-winningest coach in Muskies program history, winning 137 games.