Lakeland and Aurora meet for the first and only time this season and renew an ancient series that dates all the way back to 1934-35, the Muskies' second year of basketball when the school was known as Mission House College. Aurora has won the last two meetings, including a 109-60 victory last season on Feb. 19, 2025, plus an 82-62 win in the teams' most recent matchup at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium Feb. 14, 2024. Lakeland's last win over the Spartans was by a 103-95 score at home on Jan. 14, 2023. The teams went 42 years without playing each other before the series resumed when both became part of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference in 2006. Aurora holds a 20-12 edge in games since both joined the NACC in 2006-07, and up until the last two matchup 13 of the previous 16 meetings between the schools had been decided by eight points or less.

Lakeland last time out: Defeated Wisconsin Lutheran 66-60 Wednesday
The Muskies held an opponent to a season low for points scored and defeated the Warriors for the first time since 2022 in earning their fourth NACC win of the season. Jaxson Dillon scored 20 points and Peyton Mrotek added 17, and the two combined for seven of Lakeland's 11 three-pointers. The Muskies built a 35-16 lead late in the first half, then held on when the Warriors closed to within two points on two occasions in the game's latter stages. Asanjai Hunter also added 13 points.

Lakeland enters having won four of its last six games. The Muskies have held opponents to 42.7% shooting and 70.3 points per game over those six games, after opponents were averaging 54.5% shooting and 85.9 points over Lakeland's first 11 games that included a 2-9 start. 

Aurora last time out: Defeated Concordia Chicago 101-79 Wednesday
The Spartans continued to roll in a convincing win over the Cougars at home. Aurora shot 52.9% for the game and ran out to a 54-30 lead by halftime on the way to topping 100 points for the second straight game and the third time this season. Cullen Rauls scored 31 points, Mekhi Doby tallied 25 points and 10 assists, Jeffery Hillmer scored 18 points and Devon Richardson added 14 rebounds.

About the Spartans: Aurora has been red-hot of late and comes in having won 12 straight games, a streak that dates back to late November. The Spartans also have won nine straight in the NACC to sit in second place in the standings behind St. Norbert. Aurora has already won more games than all of last year, when it finished 11-15 overall and 9-9 in conference.