Lakeland College - Athletics

<title> Lakeland College - Athletics - Men's Basketball Press Release </title>
<p><b><font color="006699">Men's Basketball Drops Heartbreaker In Season Opener</font><br>
  Nov. 21, 2003</b><br>
  The Lakeland College Men's Basketball Team lost a 79-77 squeaker to DePauw University 
  (IN) in the Transylvania Tip-Off Classic in Kentucky Friday evening.</p>
<p>Lakeland led 36-35 at the break but was outscored 44-41 in the second half 
  for the final margin. DePauw outscored the Muskies 30-12 from three-point territory 
  and held off a furious Lakeland rally for the difference. </p>
<p>Senior Cory Nickel's free throw made it 79-77 with 23 seconds to go but he 
  was called for charging with 2 seconds left in the game while driving to the 
  basket on Lakeland's final possession. The Muskies had trailed 66-55 with 9 
  minutes to play.</p>
<p>The Muskies were led by the strong inside play of senior Morten Smiedowicz 
  and junior Eric Wilbee. Smiedowicz scored 29 points (connecting on a whopping 
  17 of 20 free throw attempts), and grabbed 6 rebounds, while Wilbee added 13 
  points and 8 boards. Nickel added 17 points while four DePauw players were in 
  double figures. </p>
<p>DePauw shot 43 percent from the field, including 38.5 percent from long range, 
  while Lakeland was at 44 percent, hitting just four of 17 from three-point range.</p>
<p>The Muskies had to play without starters Ricky Davis and Nick Zeck. Davis, 
  last year's Player of the Year in the Lake Michigan Conference, is out 4-6 weeks 
  with a broken foot. Zeck just completed playing football for Lakeland and has 
  hardly practiced at all yet - in fact he didn't even make the trip.</p>
<p><br>
  Lakeland will play Transylvania in the consolation game tomorrow at 1pm. Transy 
  lost 72-64 to UW-Whitewater in the late game Friday night.</p>
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