Dec. 5, 2015 - The Concordia-Chicago men's basketball team returned home to Geiseman Gymnasium this evening, looking to extend their winning streak to three. The Cougars entered the game as the conference's second-highest scoring team at 94 points per game, but the Lakeland College Muskies were up to the challenge of CUC's up-tempo game. The Muskies wound up beating the Cougars at their own game, and their ability to break the Cougars' press was a primary factor in a 114-91 victory.

Lakeland came out red-hot as they hit their first four shots from the field, and Joshuan McNeal's three just 2:13 into the game gave the visitors a 10-2 lead. However, CUC's three-point shooting provided a kick start. Mike Walmer (Orlando, IL/Orlando Christian) knocked down the Cougars' first triple of the night, and Justin Saar (Tracy, CA/Merrill F. West) added a pair shortly afterwards, his second one knotting the game at 10=10 at the 13:34 mark.

The tie did not last long however, as Brandon James connected on back-to-back threes to account for most of a 9-0 run. James went on to have a monster night off the bench, scoring 21 points on 6-7 shooting from the field (including all three attempts from downtown) and 6-6 from the free throw line. 

Trailing 28-19, Kris Claybon (Chicago, IL/Michele Clark) ended the Cougars' three-minute draught with a layup. However, the Muskies had seized the momentum, and they were not about to let go. Behind their two 6'6" forwards Travis Kell and Tanner Hackl, Lakeland was able to score several inside baskets, many coming after breaking the press, and they soon built their lead into the teens at 46-30. Concordia-Chicago responded with an 8-2 run capped off by Saar's third three of the game, but Lakeland maintained their lead over the last few minutes. Hackl contributed a key three-point play, and the visitors led the game at the half by a score of 54-43.

After the Muskies opened the scoring in the second half, DeAires Blackwell (Chicago, IL/St. Rita) and Mitch Pelissier (Puyallup, WA/Mount Rainier Lutheran) scored on layups to bring CUC within nine points at 56-47. However, that was as close as the home team would get as Lakeland answered with an 8-0 run, six points coming from Kell. Soon after, the Muskies took their first 20-point lead of the night, and the Cougars would get no closer than 15 for the rest of the evening. Lakeland shot just a fraction under 60 percent for the second half (22-37) while also knocking down 15 of 20 at the foul line. Kell led all scorers with 31 pointsm connecting on 13 of 17 from the field and 5-7 from the line. James followed with his 21 points, and Hackl shot 9-14 from the field en route to a 20-point game. Kell and Hackl each pulled down 12 rebounds as LC grabbed 45 boards compared to CUC's 36.

Kylan Anderson (Chicago, IL/home schooled) entered tonight's game as the conference's leading scorer with a 32.0 average. While Anderson scored 29 points (11-22 FG, 2-7 3FG, 5-6 FT), the Muskies made him work for his shots and did not allow him much from the outside. Walmer added 15 points to go with three assists and four steals. Saar recorded 11 points and four steals, and Blackwell notched a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cougars (2-3, 2-2 NACC) will travel to Wisconsin this weekend for a two-game trip, beginning with a Saturday afternoon contest at Edgewood College.