Box Score Feb. 3, 2018 – The Concordia-Chicago Cougars traveled to snowy Plymouth, WI this afternoon for their second meeting this season with Lakeland University. Much like the first meeting, the Cougars played the Muskies tough for parts of the contest, but Lakeland's three-point shooting, particularly in the first half, proved decisive as the Muskies handed the Cougars a 109-90 loss.

The Cougars attacked the basket early as Mitch Pelissier completed a three-point play and Jonathan Wilson hit two free throws for a 7-4 lead. The Muskies answered with a 7-0 run, t the Cougars kept attacking from close in, and they would take a 15-14 lead when Pelissier intercepted a clearing pass and made a strong move to score on the layup and hit the ensuing free throw.

The lead exchanged hands a couple of times over the next few minutes. With the score tied 19-19, the Muskies began to open it up with three-point shooting, led by Carlos Campos and Zach Hasenstein. The two combined for eight triples over the remainder of the half as Lakeland would go up by as much as 15 points on two different occasions. However, the Cougars kept things within reach as Wilson scored twice inside in the final minutes. A free throw by Hassan Basbous made it a nine-point game with 20 seconds left, but a three by Pat McDonald before the buzzer made the halftime score Lakeland 59, Concordia-Chicago 47.

Lakeland's three-point shooting (10-21, .476) was impressive in the half, as were the stats of 15 assists to just three turnovers. However, CUC hung in with 50 percent shooting (16-32) and a 25-16 edge in rebounds. Pelissier scored 13 points for the half, followed by Jalen Meeks with 10.

The Cougars opened the second half with a quick 10-4 burst, fueled by three baskets from Pelissier. Lakeland's Shakur Jinad answered with back-to-back buckets to restore the Muskies' lead to 10, and Campos and Eric Nygaard later produced threes as the Muskies built their lead back into the teens. Nygaard's three at the eight-minute mark extended the Muskies' lead to 18 points at 92-74.

Concordia-Chicago had one more glimmer of hope as back-to-back threes by Pelissier and Wilson trimmed the lead to 12 points with still six minutes remaining. Wilson's lane jumper made it a 10-point game, but Campos knocked down a three to trigger a 7-0 run, and the Muskies would go on to close out a 19-point win.

Pelissier led the Cougars with 28 points, followed by Wilson with 17 and Meeks with 14. Henry Woo Jr. also reached double figures with 10 points.  The Cougars shot .465 on 33-71 from the field and were 5-18 from three-point range and 19-22 from the free-throw line.

The Muskies were led by Campos with 29 points including 6-11 from outside. Jinad scored 18, 14 in the second half, and McDonald and Hasenstein each had 16. Lakeland shot .500 on 40-80 from the field, 14-31 from threes and 15-17 from the charity stripe.

The Cougars (2-19, 1-15 NACC) will return home to face MSOE in conference action on Tuesday night at 7:00.