Justin Ward (Sr.-Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) scored a career-high 34 points, James Oshkeshequoam (Sr.-Keshena, Wis.) added 28 points, and the Lakeland College men's basketball team bounced back from a disappointing loss in a big way, defeating Concordia University Wisconsin 97-86 Thursday night.

The Muskies shot 55.0% from the field in a most efficient performance, and also used their defense to take control after a strong start by the visiting Falcons. Lakeland scored the win two nights after a two-point loss to Wisconsin Lutheran College to improve to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

Ward was nearly unstoppable all night, making 10 of 14 from the field as well as 14 of 15 shots from the free throw line. He scored 20 points in the first half alone and also added 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Ward also was a part of a defense and specifically a defensive adjustment that helped turn the game around after Concordia (2-4 overall, 2-2 NACC) got off to a good start. The Falcons carved the Muskies up inside early in taking a 17-8 lead, but a switch to a zone defense gave the Falcons fits.

Lakeland went on a 26-4 run over the next eight minutes, including spurts of 10-0 and 12-0. Concordia turned the ball over 10 times in that span, including once on four consecutive possessions, and Brandon Hagenow (So.-Sussex, Wis.) capped it with a short jumper to make it 34-21 with 4:11 left in the first half.

The Muskies took a 43-30 lead into halftime and then had an answer for every Falcons rally in the second half, when the game's pace quickened  and the two teams combined for 110 points after intermission.

Concordia cut the lead down to eight at 53-45 early in the half, but Lakeland came back with a 13-3 run capped by an Oshkeshequoam three-pointer to take its largest lead at 66-48. The Falcons tried to come back and got as close as seven at 79-72 with 5:49 to play, but never got closer.

While Ward lit it up in the first half, Oshkeshequoam led the way in the second half, when he scored 23 of his 28 points. The senior finished the game shooting 9-for-16, making 4 of 6 three-point tries and 6 of 7 from the free throw line, and his performance helped the Muskies shoot 58.6% as a team in the second half (17 of 29).

Lakeland made 33 of 60 shots from the field for the game and also was deadly at the free throw line, hitting 25 of 31 (80.6%), including 17 of 20 in the second half. Kurt Jansen (Jr.-Wrightstown, Wis.) also scored 12 points and Stan McKenzie (Sr.-Racine, Wis.) added 10.

Keith Kahlfeldt scored 24 points to lead the Falcons, who shot 44.0% (33 of 75) and out-rebounded the Muskies 43-38, but made just 13 of 23 free throws. Bradley Prinsen added 18 points and Brett Boettcher posted 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Lakeland is back in action Saturday when it travels to face Dominican (Ill.) University at 2 p.m. in River Forest, Ill.