Box Score
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. – In a showdown of the only two undefeated teams in the North Division, Jake Schwarz of Lakeland College poured in 37 points as the Muskies snuck past Edgewood College 68-66. It was a tale of two halves, the first half was high scoring as the two teams combined for 86 total points, and the second was slowed down as they combined for only 48 total points.
In a game that had seven ties and 11 lead changes, most of which coming in the first half, Josh Regal gave the Muskies (4-3, 3-0 NAC) a two point win when he banked in a jump shot from 10 feet out on the right side with just 2.5 seconds remaining. The win puts Lakeland all alone atop the North division with a 3-0 conference record.
The game got off to a frenetic pace when Jeff Barczak drilled a three-point basket, then came up with a steal and set-up Derek Nkemnji for a layup to give the Eagles a quick 5-0 advantage just 35 seconds into the game. However, Schwarz responded by getting the Muskies on the board with a layup of his own, and after a Kent Faurote three-point basket, Schwarz hit a couple jumpers and a three-point shot to give Lakeland a 9-8 lead just over three minutes into the game.
Schwarz went on to score the first 18 points for the Muskies before Trevor McKown tallied a layup at the 9:10 mark to pull the Muskies back within one point at 21-20. After the game was tied for the second time at 26, Ben Wisniewski hit a three-point basket to give Edgewood College (3-4, 2-1 NAC) a lead they would hold on to until 1:07 left in the first frame. The Muskies closed the half on a 7-2 run and took a two point lead into the break at 44-42.
Coming out of the intermission, the teams exchanged layups for the first two minutes, and with the score knotted at 48, Hunter Wolf gave the Muskies a 50-48 lead, a lead they held for most of the frame. Lakeland extended that lead to nine points with 10:05 remaining, at 63-54. At that point Edgewood College went on a 12-1 run and regained the lead at 66-64 on a Wisniewski three-point bomb with 4:19 to play.
However, Schwarz would bring Lakeland back once again as he hit two free throws with 1:55 remaining to tie the contest at 66. On the next possession, the Eagles had three opportunities to take the lead and put pressure on the Muskies. The Eagles grabbed two offensive rebounds off of a missed jumper and missed layup, but Edgewood College could not convert as they missed another layup which gave Lakeland a chance to win the game with 39 second to go. After a Muskie timeout, Regal hit the game-winning shot with 2.5 seconds left to give the Muskies the 68-66 victory.
Edgewood College out rebounded Lakeland 40-27 in the game. Tony Cates and Nkemnji recorded seven boards apiece to lead the Eagles. However, the Eagles turned the ball over 17 times to the Muskies five. But the Muskies only scored 14 points off those turnovers.
Wisniewski led the Eagles with 18 points and was one of three Eagles in double figures. Baczak scored 16 points while Faurote tallied 12 points. Cates and Nkemnji were just shy of doubled digits as they scored nine points apiece. For Lakeland it was Schwarz who led the way with 37 points, 32 in the first half on 13-of-15 shooting in the first frame. The next closest Muskie was McKown who scored eight points. Schwarz also led the Muskies in rebounds with seven.
Edgewood College will next be in action on Sunday when the travel to Elmhurst College to face Benedictine University. The contest is being played at Elmhurst because Benedictine is in the process of replacing the floor in their gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.
