The Lakeland College men's basketball team finished the game on a 24-6 run, coming back just in time to defeat Dominican (Ill.) University 75-66 Saturday afternoon at the Woltzen Gymnasium in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game.

The Muskies avoided what would've been a very disappointing loss against the team at the bottom of the NACC standings, earning the win late after trailing for much of the contest. Lakeland improved to 11-3 overall and 7-2 in the NACC, winning its fourth straight game and for the seventh time in eight games.

Stan McKenzie (Jr.-Racine, Wis.) came up with a steal and lay-in with 2:14 to play to make it 68-66, part of a game-ending 13-0 run for the Muskies. Lakeland held the Stars without a point for the final 4:05 after trailing by as many as 11 in the game and by 10 points with 12 minutes left in the game.

Dominican (1-12 overall, 1-8 NACC) still led 60-51 after a layup by Anoribe Nwannehuihe with 10:11 left in the game, but the Stars scored just six points the rest of the way. The Muskies chipped away and took a 62-61 lead on a basket by Justin Ward (Sr.-Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) with 4:28 to play.

Dominican battled back to retake the lead one more time with five quick points, the last two coming on a layup by Logan Harris to make it 66-62. The Stars would not score again, though, going scoreless on their last seven trips down the court.

Lakeland jumped out to a quick 19-12 lead midway through the first half, only to go ice cold while watching Dominican heat up. The Stars finished the half on a 31-13 run as the Muskies hit just five of their final 22 field goals to trail 43-32 at the break.

The Muskies made a run early in the second half and took the lead back at 48-47 on a free throw by McKenzie, but the Stars continued to battle, scoring 11 straight points for a 58-48 lead with 11:52 to play.

Ward led Lakeland with 22 points and 13 rebounds, McKenzie scored 19 and James Oshkeshequoam (Sr.-Keshena, Wis.) added 15. The Muskies shot 45.0% (27 of 60) but hit just 5 of 20 three-point attempts. Lakeland also made 16 of 28 free throws (57.1%), including 8-for-10 in the late minutes after struggling much of the game.

Logan Harris scored 15 points to lead Dominican, while Mike Bobek scored 14 and Ryan Risley added 12. The Stars were hurt by foul trouble, losing two players to fouls in the final four minutes.

Lakeland is home again Tuesday when it faces Edgewood College at 7 p.m. at Woltzen Gynasium.