PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Peyton Mrotek (Sr.-Luxemburg, Wis.) scored a career-high 37 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 22 seconds left as Lakeland University outlasted Dominican University 86-83 in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference men's basketball contest Saturday.

The Muskies slipped by the Stars in narrow fashion for the second time this season and improved to 8-14 overall and 6-9 in the NACC with three regular season games remaining. Lakeland also moved for the time being into eighth in the NACC standings, one-half game ahead of Concordia University Chicago (5-9) in the chase for a spot in the eight-team NACC Tournament.

The Muskies came back from 11 points down with less than 13 minutes left in the game to take a three-point lead and set the stage for a back-and-forth final four minutes that included five ties and four lead changes down the stretch.

Jaxson Dillon (Sr.-Menasha, Wis.) made a three-pointer from the right corner to put Lakeland ahead 80-77 with 49 seconds left, but Dominican's Frank Paszkowski answered with a triple 11 seconds later to tie the score again at 80-80. The Muskies received a break 16 seconds later when a foul was called on Dominic Crapia guarding in the post, and Mrotek made both free throws later to give Lakeland an 82-80 lead.

Dominican then came up empty on its next possession when Elijah Daugherty's layup attempt was blocked by Parker Braun (Jr.-Brillion, Wis.), and the ball fell to Daugherty laying out of bounds to give the Muskies possession again. Dillon then broke free on the inbounds play and received a full court pass from Braun for a layup to make it 84-80, but Daugherty drained a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left. Mrotek made two free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining to make it 86-83, and a last-ditch attempt as an inbounds pass beyond center court was intercepted by Dillon to preserve the win.

The teams combined for 13 lead changes and 12 changes throughout the contest, including six of each in the first half. The Stars (1-20 overall, 1-13 NACC) started the game on a quick 7-0 run, but Lakeland settled in and took the lead when R.J. Hines Jr. (Jr.-Gainesville, Fla.) made two free throws to make it 19-18 near the middle of the half.

Dominican inched ahead late in the half and took a 41-40 lead into halftime, and then took its largest lead of the game when Joseph Jones hit a three-pointer to make it 61-50 with 13:15 left in the game. The Muskies came back with a 12-0 run over three minutes, and Asanjai Hunter (Sr.-Racine, Wis.) hit a three-pointer and then a layup to make it 73-70 with 4:56 to play.

Mrotek finished making 11 of 16 shots from the field, including 4 of 7 from three-point range, plus 11 of 12 free throws. He also added a team-high 11 rebounds. Hunter also scored 22 points, Dillon scored 12 and Max Justic (Fr.-Chicago, Ill.) added 11 points.

The Muskies shot 41.9% (26 of 62) including 10 of 33 (30.3%) from three-point range. Dominican made 28 of 63 field goals (44.4%), including 11 of 21 from three-point range. Paszkowski scored 27 points, Daugherty added 22 and Braydon Murphy also finished with 16 points plus 15 rebounds.

Lakeland is home for the third straight game Wednesday when it hosts St. Norbert College at 7 p.m. at the Woltzen Gym.