Nov. 24, 2007
Box Score
The Upper Iowa men's basketball team played their first regular season home game of the young season on Saturday afternoon before a great crowd of Peacock fans. UIU welcomed the Mighty Oaks of Oakland City University to Dorman Gym in Fayette for the non-conference match up. The two teams split last year's two games with each team winning on their home floor. Oakland City outscored Upper Iowa 39-26 in the second half to take the victory 79-63 and move to 3-1 on the year. The Peacocks fell to 0-3 with the loss.
The Mighty Oaks opened the game with an 11-4 run on the back of three three-point field goals, but the Peacocks answered quicky with an 11-3 run of their own to take a one-point lead, 15-14, with fourteen minutes to play in the first half. Upper Iowa took the lead thanks to three three-pointers of their own. The home team was able to build a lead of six points by the 6:38 mark leading 29-23, but the visitors rallied with a 9-2 run to take the lead, 32-31, just two minutes later. The Mighty Oaks built their lead to five points, but a tip-in at the buzzer by Neil Gross cut the lead to 40-37 at halftime.
Oakland City opened the second half much the way they started the game; the visitors took a twelve point lead seven minutes into the half fueled by a 14-5 run. Josh Wilmes was a force in the run scoring 8 points in the opening minutes. UIU cut the lead 57-50 with just under eight minutes on the clock, but OCU extended the lead back to 64-51 two minutes later. The Mighty Oaks hit their free throws as the game wound down to claim the victory 79-63.
Oakland City shot 47% for the game including 46% from three (11-24), while Upper Iowa hit on 41% of their shots and 32% from three (8-25). The Mighty Oaks pulled down 35 boards and tallied 15 assists, while the Peacocks only grabbed 25 rebounds but dished out 18 assists.
A.J. Adkins led the Peacocks in scoring with 14 points, while Nick Kramer netted 12 points and Marcus Uhlenhopp added 11. Adkins and Gross led UIU in rebounding with 6 boards each. Jude Roybal handed out 5 assists on the night, while Alex Kramer dished out 3. Gross also recorded 3 steals in the game.
After the game Head Coach Brian Dolan said, "Experience was a big factor. They started five seniors and it made a huge difference. In the second half, their defense made us take quick shots and force others. Those were the two biggest differences tonight."
Upper Iowa will be back on Prochaska Court in Dorman Gym on Tuesday night, Nov. 27. The Peacocks will host the Vikings of Augustana College. Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
