PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Aurora University extended its winning streak to 13 games but not before a stubborn effort by the Lakeland University men's basketball team, which battled before succumbing 90-83 Saturday afternoon in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Asanjai Hunter (Sr.-Racine, Wis.) and Peyton Mrotek (Sr.-Luxemburg, Wis.) combined for 52 points and the Muskies were within four points with just under two minutes left in the game in giving the Spartans one of their toughest games so far in NACC play. Lakeland dropped to 6-12 overall and 4-7 in conference while Aurora improved to 15-3 overall and 10-1 in the NACC.

The Muskies trailed almost the entire way but also were within single digits much of the game, including in the second half when Aurora briefly built its largest lead of the game with a three-pointer to start the half for a 51-37 lead. Lakeland went on an 11-2 run soon after and a fast break layup by Hunter cut the Spartans' margin to 57-53 with still 14:24 left in the game.

Aurora eventually extended the lead back out to 12 at 76-64 after a layup by Devon Richardson, but the Muskies chipped away again and were down just 83-79 when Jaxson Dillon (Sr.-Menasha, Wis.) drained a three-pointer with 1:59 to play. The Spartans finally put it away with free throws combined with a flurry of missed Lakeland shots in the final minute, including Aurora making four straight at the line followed by the Muskies missing five shot attempts on one trip down before a breakaway dunk by Jeffery Hillmer sealed the win.

Lakeland led three times briefly in the game, all coming in the first six minutes. Max Justic (Fr.-Chicago, Ill.) hit a three for a 15-13 lead with 14:19 left in the first half, but Aurora took the lead for good with an 11-0 run immediately following that.

The Muskies hung around throughout the first half, though, and trailed 48-37 at the break. Mrotek scored 16 of his career-high 23 points in the opening half. Hunter then followed with 19 of his 29 points in the second half, finishing one point shy of his career high of 30 set earlier this season against Ripon College.

Lakeland finished shooting 41.4% (29 of 70) but made 14 of 38 from three-point range (36.8%). Dillon and Justic both added 14 points each and Mrotek also set a career high with 12 rebounds.

Juan Madrigal led Aurora with 24 points and Richardson added 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Spartans shot 56.7%, making 34 of 60 field goals, and won their 10th straight conference game, with the Muskies just the second team in that stretch to stay within 11 points of Aurora.

Lakeland goes on the road Wednesday to face Illinois Tech in Chicago at 7 p.m.