Dec. 5, 2009
Final Stats
Less than 24 hours after collecting a 64-60 victory over Concordia-St. Paul, the Peacock men's basketball team was back in action Saturday evening as they continued their opening Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference weekend in St. Cloud, Minn. against the Huskies of St. Cloud State. SCSU jumped out to an early lead before halftime and never looked back as they defeated UIU, 80-65.
Neither team could really pull out much of a lead during the first half of action. While St. Cloud State had a nine point lead at one point, the Peacocks battled back to eventually gain a one point lead of their own, 26-25, off of a Keith Steffeck three-pointer with 8:13 remaining in the half.
But, the Huskies found a way to get the ball inside the paint and gain the lead back over the remainder of the half to take a 44-35 lead into the halftime break.
Steffeck and Sam Elgin lead the Peacocks at the break with six points each. The Huskies scorched the nets over the first twenty minutes as they shot a lights out 16-of-23 (69.6%) while the Peacocks managed 14 field goals in 26 attempts (53.8%) which included a 4-of-11 clip from beyond the three-point arc. SCSU held a 20-14 points in the paint margin during the first period of play while also outrebounding UIU, 16-8.
SCSU extended their lead throughout the early part of the second half and had a 17 point lead, 56-39, with 13:21 to play in regulation. UIU chipped away throughout the half, but couldn't cut the lead down anymore than just eight points resulting in SCSU securing an 80-65 victory.
Matt Lesan led the Peacocks with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting while as a team, UIU shot 23-for-51 (45.1%) while SCSU finished the game with a 55.8% (24-43) shooting percentage. Neither team shot free throws particularly well, however; as they combined to shoot 42-for-64 (66%). SCSU outrebounded the Peacocks 35-22 while committing two less turnovers as well.
The loss drops UIU's record to 2-5 for the season and 1-1 in NSIC play while St. Cloud State improves to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.
The Peacocks opens their 2009-10 NSIC home schedule next Saturday, Dec. 12 when the Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth visits Dorman Gym in Fayette. Tip off for that contest is slated for 4 p.m.
