The Lakeland College men's basketball team was efficient on offense and stingy at the defensive end, and the combination led to a convincing 88-64 win over Milwaukee School of Engineering Wednesday night in a key Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game.

Lakeland shot 55.0% for the game, hitting 33 of 60 shots, including 10 of 17 three-point tries. The Muskies also were 12 of 14 from the free throw line (85.7%) and committed just six turnovers.

The host Muskies also were terrific at the defensive end, limiting MSOE to 35.6% shooting, the Raiders' lowest shooting percentage of the season. Lakeland also held MSOE leading scorer to Austin Stueck to eight points, more than 11 below his season average and 27 points under his scoring total in the Raiders' 96-89 win over the Muskies in December.

It all added up to a big win for Lakeland on the scoreboard and in the NACC standings. The Muskies gained a split of the season series with MSOE and improved to 13-4 overall and 9-3 in conference play. Lakeland is now a game up in the standings over the Raiders, who dropped to 8-4 in the NACC (13-4 overall).

The Muskies took control of the game with a 16-2 run late in the first half, turning a 25-23 deficit into a 39-27 lead. James Oshkeshequoam (Sr.-Keshena, Wis.) scored seven points in the spurt and Kurt Jansen (Jr.-Wrightstown, Wis.) added a three-point play, part of his nine points off the bench in the first half.

Lakeland led 43-32 at halftime, and the Muskies never let MSOE get closer than seven in the second half. Justin Ward (Sr.-Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) took over with 16 points and seven rebounds in the final 20 minutes alone as Lakeland kept a comfortable margin throughout the half. The Raiders never made a run, and the Muskies closed out the contest outscoring the visitors 24-8 over the final 6 1/2 minutes.

Ward finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds, making 8 of 11 from the field, both of his three-point attempts and 6 of 7 from the line. The senior forward finished with just one blocked shot, two below his average, but also intimidated numerous MSOE shots especially in the second half.

Oshkeshequoam and Jansen both scored 15 points, with Jansen making 7 of 8 from the field off the bench. Joey Burris (Jr.-Kiel, Wis.) added 13 points and four assists, while Zach Van Engen (So.-Sheboygan Falls, Wis.) came off the bench and led the team with five assists.

Dylan Jones led MSOE with 13 points off the bench and Jeremiah Erdmann added 12. The Raiders hit 21 of 59 field goals, including 7 of 21 from three-point range.

Lakeland is home again Saturday when it takes on Rockford (Ill.) University at 2 p.m. at the Woltzen Gymnasium.