Dec. 22, 2008
Final Stats
The Peacock men's basketball team took to the road for their final game before the holiday break this evening in St. Louis, Missouri. Upper Iowa lined up against the University of Missouri-St. Louis in a non-conference contest. UIU held a one-point lead at halftime, 40-39, but were outscored by six points in the second twenty minutes despite scoring 43 points. With the victory the Tritons improved to 7-4 overall, while the Peacocks fell to 1-9 on the season.
Upper Iowa came out of the gates fast taking a 9-2 lead less than four minutes into the game. Four minutes later, a Mark Lafrenz jumper and an A.J. Adkins three-pointer pushed the Peacock lead to eight points, 16-8. The home team began to find their stride and quickly cut the margin to just one point, 19-18. The Tritons took the lead, 28-26, following a three-point play by Beaumont Beasley at the 4:12 mark. The Peacocks did not let momentum stay on UMSL's side as three different Peacocks scored to fuel a quick 7-3 run that gave UIU a lead, 35-31. Upper Iowa headed to the locker room clinging to a one-point lead, 40-39.
The second half opened much the same way the game began with Upper Iowa moving out to a five-point lead, 58-53, on a Nick Kramer jumper with 13:13 showing on the clock. The Tritons overcame that five-point deficit thanks to Beasley, who scored 10 points during a 19-6 UMSL spurt, giving the Tritons a 72-64 lead. While the Triton offense was mounting their run, the Peacock offense shot 1-10 from the floor earning all their points at the free throw line and one jumper. The Peacocks rallied and got to within one point, 82-81, with 29 seconds to play after Nick Kramer converted on an old-fashioned three-point play. However, Missouri-St. Louis hit their final six free throw attempts to seal the decision and hand Upper Iowa a loss, 88-83.
Nick Kramer and Matt Lesan led UIU in scoring with 21 and 20 respectively. The two combined to hit 17 of their 24 shots on the night. Dan Bestul (13 pts) and A.J. Adkins (11 pts) also scored in double figures for the Peacocks. Alex Kramer led the Peacocks on the glass with five rebounds, while Lesan and Nick Kramer each pulled down 4. Bestul dished out 5 assists on the night, while Lafrenz and (Alex) Kramer each handed out four.
Upper Iowa will return to NSIC action in the New Year; Jan. 2-3. The Peacocks will play at home on Prochaska Court against the Marauders of the University of Mary on Friday and the Wolves of Northern State University on Saturday. Both games are scheduled for 8 p.m. in Dorman Gym.
