Feb. 25, 2009
Final Stats
The Peacocks and Warriors opened up the first seven and a half minutes of the game both shooting a high percentage from the floor. The teams were separated by just a point, 14-13, as the game clock showed 12:34. The defenses of both teams began to exert their will as the teams only combined for nine points over the next four minutes. The visitors held a 19-17 lead with eight and a half minutes to play in the half. The Warrior offense scored five straight to extend their lead from four points to nine, 28-19, with five minutes to play. UIU did not let their guests get away for long as Nick Kramer hit a jumper and added a pair at the line to get the home team back within five, 28-23. Winona State closed the half on an 11-0 run over the final 4:37 to take a sixteen-point lead, 39-23.
The centers for each team scored 10 points to lead their teams. Nick Kramer led the Peacocks, while Joel Armstrong paced the Warriors. Winona State hit 55% of their shots and held Upper Iowa to 35% on their opportunities.
Upper Iowa closed the margin to twelve, 46-34, inside the first four minutes of the second half after Nick Kramer scored a quick seven to go along with a Matt Lesan trifecta. Winona State seemed to have a reply for each Upper Iowa rally as the half moved to its midway point; UIU trailed 61-46 with just over nine minutes to play following a Martinez Martin jumper. The lead was thirteen when Dan Bestul found Chris Sullivan on a back cut. The teams traded baskets for the next few possessions and with under eight minutes to play WSU led by just thirteen points, 63-50. The Warrior defense held the Peacocks to just two points over the next three and a half minutes to push their lead to eighteen, 70-52. Upper Iowa closed out the final minutes by outscoring Winona State 9-7, but the Warriors won the NSIC affair 77-61.
Winona State was led by David Johnson (15 points, 4 rebounds) and Joel Armstrong (13 points, 7 rebounds).
Upper Iowa was led by Nick Kramer, who made his final appearance in Dorman Gym along with fellow senior Storm Schmitt. Kramer scored 20 points on 8 of 10 shooting and 4 of 5 at the charity stripe. Matt Lesan and Dan Bestul each chipped in 9 points. Chris Sullivan led UIU on the glass with 8 boards. Schmitt scored four points and pulled down 5 boards in his final action on Prochaska Court.
Upper Iowa will play their final game of the 2008-09 season at Concordia University, St. Paul on Saturday, Feb. 28. The Peacocks and Golden Bears will tip at approximately 8 p.m. after the women's game.
