The Lakeland College men's basketball team outscored Finlandia (Mich.) University 19-7 over the final 5:40, avoiding a disappointing loss with an 81-76 win Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference game.

The Muskies played for the first time in nearly two weeks and recovered from a sloppy first half to improve to 8-3 overall. Lakeland won its final non-conference game of the regular season over a Finlandia team that is now 2-14.

James Oshkeshequoam (Sr.-Keshena, Wis.) scored 21 points and Stan McKenzie (Sr.-Racine, Wis.) added 16, and the duo carried the Muskies through some rough times through the first 30-plus minutes of the game, when Lakeland trailed much of the way.

Teammate Joey Burris (Jr.-Kiel, Wis.) added 12 points, including eight straight points late in the game. His three-pointer with 3:32 to play gave Lakeland the lead for good at 71-69, and he added a jumper and another three-pointer.

All of those points were needed as Finlandia took the game down to the final minute. The Lions trailed just 77-76 after a layup with 31 seconds left by Keith Arnold, but Justin Ward (Sr.-Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) scored on a putback after two missed free throws, and then blocked a shot on the other end to lead to two more free throws by Oshkeshequoam.

The Muskies committed 13 turnovers and trailed 43-34 at halftime despite shooting 14 of 29 (48.3%) in the first half. Finlandia's Brandon Robinson scored 17 points in the first half, including four three-pointers, but was held to just three points in the second half.

Lakeland shot 47.5% for the game, making 28 of 59 shots, and also hit 19 of 26 from the free throw line (73.1%). The Muskies also committed just two turnovers in the second half. In addition to Oshkeshequoam, McKenzie and Burris, Ward also was in double figures with 13 points.

The Muskies open the new year at home on Saturday against Aurora (Ill.) University in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game at 2 p.m. at the Woltzen Gymnasium.