First playing in 1935 and consistent rivals since 1977, the Muskies and Raiders play for the first and only time this season. Milwaukee School of Engineering won the teams' lone matchup in each of the last two seasons, including a 93-71 win at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium last year on Jan. 8, 2025. The Raiders also won two years ago in Milwaukee, while Lakeland's last win in the series came Jan. 31, 2023 at home with a 74-73 win Jan. 31, 2023. The teams have split their last eight games; prior to that, the Raiders had won the previous 11 meetings. The series dates back to 1935, and Lakeland won 26 straight over the Raiders from 1939-87, a stretch that included an absence in the series from 1940-77.

Lakeland last time out: Lost at Rockford 87-60 Saturday
The Regents went on a huge run bridging the first and second halves and a solid start early for the Muskies turned into their most decisive loss of the season. Rockford outscored Lakeland 38-5 over a stretch of 10 minutes, including a 19-1 run to close the first half and turn a 34-27 deficit into a 46-35 lead, followed by a 19-4 run out of halftime. The Muskies led almost the entirety of the game's first 16 minutes, including hitting 9 of 12 shots to start the contest. Asanjai Hunter scored 20 points, Peyton Mrotek also scored 17 and added seven rebounds and Jaxson Dillon finished with 12 points. Lakeland shot a season-low 33.3%, including just 6 of 27 in the second half, and has now alternated wins and losses over its last nine games.

MSOE last time out: Defeated Concordia Wisconsin 101-87 Saturday
The Raiders shot 60.7% from the field to win their fourth straight and for the eighth time in nine games. MSOE received 29 points from Jonathan Burroughs and 25 from Mason Dopirak in winning a shootout that saw both teams shoot better than 51% from the floor. Carson Cordelli also added 16 points and Joey Jendusa scored 11, and MSOE's top four scorers in the game made 30 of 43 shots (69.8%). The Raiders completed a season sweep of the Falcons, having won their earlier meeting in December in double overtime in Mequon.

About the Raiders: MSOE comes in having lost just twice in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play and only once in 2026, though the one loss at Aurora on Jan. 17 came by a 114-74 score in a game Mason Dopirak played just five minutes. Dopirak is the No. 2 scorer in the conference, averaging 24.8 points per game, and along with Asanjai Hunter (4th, 19.8 ppg) and Jaxson Dillon (5th, 16.1 ppg), Wednesday's game will feature three of the top five scorers in the NACC. The Raiders are the No. 2 scoring team in the conference overall, averaging 84.9 points per game, but also rank 11th in the NACC in points allowed (81.8 ppg).