Jan. 12, 2013 - The Concordia-Chicago men's basketball team faced a herculean challenge this afternoon with the Lakeland College Muskies' visit to Geiseman Gymnasium. Lakeland entered play today with a 13-2 overall record and 6-0 mark atop the North Division of the Northern Athletics Conference. The Cougars attempted to slow the tempo throughout the game with limited success as the Muskies rolled to a 71-54 victory.

The Cougars' only lead of the game came as Khirey Floyd's (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park-River Forest) three gave Concordia a 3-2 edge. But Jake Schwarz, the NAC's leading scorer at 24.6 points per game, heated up quickly. Schwarz drilled a three from the left side and followed with two more baskets for a 9-3 lead. Taylor Rawlings (Rochester Hills, MI/Stoney Creek) narrowed the gap with a three, but a three-point play by Eric Strzok and another basket by Schwarz increased the visitors' lead to eight.

Concordia continued to play a deliberate pace on offense, but a 7-20 shooting first half hampered efforts to keep close. Meanwhile, Lakeland shot 52 percent from the field (14-27), knocking down their final three shots of the half to take a 37-22 lead.

Lakeland scored the first four points of the second half, two coming on a follow-up slam dunk by Justin Ward. The Cougars came as close as 14 points in the half on a steal and layup by Brandon Johnson (Chicago, IL/Gordon Tech) at the 8:38 mark. However, Ward and Schwarz combined to score the next seven points and discourage any further thoughts of a comeback.

Schwarz scored 27 points on 11-19 from the field (1-5 threes) and 4-5 at the foul line. The 6'5" senior also pulled down 12 rebounds and made three steals. Ward finished with 11 points despite playing just 15 minutes due to foul trouble.

Floyd led Concordia with 14 points including a perfect 6-6 at the line. Brandon Stinson (Schiller Park, IL/East Leyden) scored 12 points, ten coming in the second half, and Rawlings added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Concordia (1-13, 1-7 NAC) will play at Benedictine University on Tuesday night. The Cougars wil look to avenge an earlier four-point loss to the Eagles.