Dec. 13, 2008
Final Stats
The UIU men's basketball team continues to work for their first Northern Sun Conference win of the 2008-09 season. The Peacocks took another lead deep into a conference game, but were unable to hold on as the clock wound down. The Beavers of Bemidji State held a 54-23 advantage in free throws attempted in the game as UIU was called for 33 fouls. The Beavers converted 36 of their free throws to rally from an eleven-point deficit in the first half and an eight-point margin in the second half. The home team picked up the win by a final score of 75-70 after scoring the final six points of the game on free throws. After the loss, Upper Iowa falls to 1-8 overall and 0-4 in the Northern Sun, while Bemidji State improved to 2-6 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
The Peacocks came out of the gate firing as they took a 10-5 lead four minutes into the ballgame. Upper Iowa maintained their five-point advantage to the midway point of the half led by sophomore Dan Bestul. The Northwood-native scored 12 points on a pair of three-pointers and two three-point plays. With 6:29 to play in the first, UIU claimed their largest lead of the game, 34-23. The Beavers stormed back into the game using a 9-0 run that took just over two minutes. The two teams played the remainder of the half matching each other point for point. Upper Iowa took a three-point lead into the break, 43-40.
Upper Iowa started the second period with a small 6-1 run that staked the visitors to an eight point lead, 49-41. Over the next four minutes of action, the Peacock lead bounced between four and seven points. Bemidji State began to creep closer as the half reached its midway point. When the clock showed 10:05, BSU's Taylor Hall stepped to the line and hit two free throws to tie the score at 60-60. The game was tied four more times over the closing minutes; the final tie was at 70-70 with 1:44 to play. Unfortunately for UIU fans, the Peacocks would not score again.
Hall led the Beavers with 29 points on 8 of 13 shooting from the field including two of three from behind the arc and 11 of 17 shooting from the free throw line.
Matt Lesan (19 points, 3 assists) and Dan Bestul (16 points, 8 rebounds) led the Peacocks on the evening. Alex Kramer tallied 9 points and 7 rebounds, while Chris Sullivan came off the bench to grab 8 rebounds.
Upper Iowa will play in one final game before taking a break for the holidays. The Peacocks will travel to the University of Missouri-St. Louis on Monday, Dec. 22, for a game at 6:00 p.m. The game between the Peacocks and Tritons will be a non-conference affair.
