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Lakeland suffers first home loss in NAC play


Athletics - posted on 1/21/2010

SHEBOYGAN - The Lakeland men's basketball team battled late into the second half, but came up short Thursday night in an 80-74 defeat against North Division foe Rockford in a Northern Athletics Conference match-up at Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies (7-9 overall, 4-4 NAC), who entered the game undefeated at home in conference action, found the lead twice in the second half, but allowed Rockford to shoot 51.5 percent from the field in the period and 49.1 percent for the game.

After the Regents (9-7, 4-5) led for a majority of the second half, Lakeland took a 53-51 advantage after a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Jake Schwarz.

However, Rockford made an 8-0 run around four missed shots and two turnovers by the Muskies to take a six-point lead with 9:13 to play.

Lakeland would get as close as two the rest of the way, but never seriously threatened to take a lead.

In a physical contest, each team attempted 23 free throws, with Rockford knocking down 19 and Lakeland converting 20. The Muskies shot just 4-of-16 (25 percent) from 3-point range.

Schwarz (Sheboygan, Wis.) collected his fifth double-double of the season with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman guard P.J. Marion (Milwaukee, Wis.) came off the bench to score a career-high 14 points, 12 of which came in the first half.

Sophomore guard Josh Regal (Suring, Wis.) added 18 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Rockford led 34-31 at the half, as Lakeland cut down a nine-point deficit with an 8-2 run heading into the locker room.

Lakeland concludes its three-game home stand Saturday against MSOE at 4:15 p.m.

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