Jan. 26, 2008

Box Score

The Peacocks welcomed the Marauders of the University of Mary on Friday night for the opening game of round two in the Northern Sun basketball season. Upper Iowa came into the game having won five of their last seven including four of their last five NSIC contests. Upper Iowa fought to a 26-23 halftime lead by shooting well in the first half, though their offense was held back by turnovers. The game continued to be tightly contested with both teams dealing with physical play throughout. Upper Iowa outlasted U-Mary in overtime to win their fifth conference game, 65-64.

The Marauders raced out to a 7-2 lead on the back of strong outside shooting, but baskets by Storm Schmitt, Dan Bestul, and Jude Roybal erased the deficit and gave the home team an 8-7 lead five minutes into the game. Both defenses regrouped as the Peacocks crept out to a 15-13 lead midway through the first half. The offenses struggled as the half continued; Upper Iowa moved out to a 24-19 lead with four and a half minutes to play. The Marauders scored the only four points over the next four minutes and twenty-eight seconds, but a rebound and put back by Alex Kramer gave UIU the lead, 26-23, at the break.

U-Mary came out of halftime and tried to the game at 30-30 by outscoring the Peacocks 7-4. The early play was highlighted by a dunk from U-Mary's Scott Guggenberg. The home team righted themselves and pushed back out to a 38-34 lead with under twelve minutes to play. A Marauder lay up ended the three-minute scoring drought and brought the visitors within two, 38-36. A second Guggenberg dunk tied the game at 38-38 with 9:29 to play. Nick Kramer hit a short hook shot to end the Peacocks' six minute scoreless run.

The two teams continued to battle in the physical match up; the home team once again crept out to a 47-44 lead with just over five minutes to play. After U-Mary cut the lead to one, Matt Lesan stepped to the line to hit a free throw and extend the lead back to two points, 50-48. The game was tied at 50-50 when U-Mary scored on a back cutting lay up. After a bad Peacock possession the visitors hit a free throw to go up 51-50 with just over a minute to play.

Lesan caught the ball on the block on UIU's next possession and was fouled going up; the freshman hit one to tie the game at 51-51. The Peacock defense held strong to give Upper Iowa a golden opportunity for the lead. A Roybal shot just rolled off the rim, but the home team was whistled for an over the back foul. The call resulted in the Marauders being awarded a one and one. U-Mary hit both free throws to take a 53-51 lead. Roybal let a three-pointer fly with 8 seconds to play. The shot missed, but Nick Kramer pulled in the rebound and hit the tying lay up. The Marauders were unable to get a final shot off and the game moved to overtime.

The visitors opened the extra period with a three-pointer, but Bestul answered quickly with a Peacock basket. After a bucket by U-Mary, Lesan tied the game at 58-58 with a three before Roybal gave the home team a two-point lead on a high flying lay up. Eric Erdmann tied the game on a fall away jumper with 1:58 to play. Lesan found himself at the line again with 47 seconds on the clock and he hit both to claim a 62-60 advantage for UIU.

UM scored one point on their next possession to pull within one, 62-61. A.J. Adkins stepped to the charity stripe and hit two to give the Peacocks a 64-61 lead with 23 seconds to play. A UIU defensive switch confused U-Mary into a turnover and allowed Roybal to step to the line and give the home team a four-point which was necessary as the visitors hit a long three at the buzzer. Upper Iowa continues to succeed on the court as they reached the .500 mark in the NSIC with the 65-64 overtime win.

Lesan led the Peacocks with 22 points, 10 of which came at the free throw line. Roybal netted 13 points, pulled down 6 rebounds, and handed out 7 assists. Adkins put home 9 points and grabbed 7 boards.

The Peacocks will be back in action tomorrow night as they host the Wolves of Northern State. Don Meyer, head coach for the Wolves, is currently tied with Dean Smith as the second winningest men's basketball coach of all time with 879 wins. Tip off is slated for 8 p.m. in Dorman Gym.