The Upper Iowa Men's Basketball team continued the 2010-11 season Friday evening when they travelled to Duluth, Minn. to take on the Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth. The Peacocks came from behind to force a nailbiting finish, but the Bulldogs defeated UIU, 73-71.

Minnesota Duluth jumped out to an early lead and extended the lead to double digits a few times during the first 20 minutes of action, but would only take an 11 point lead into the halftime break, 35-24.

Sophomore guard Jake Hughes led the Peacocks with six points at the halftime break. UMD outshot UIU by four buckets to make up the only real difference statistically in the first half. The Bulldogs also outrebounded UIU, 19-12.

Upper Iowa looked like they were done in the early goings of the second half as they fell behind by 17 points with 8:16 to play in the contest, but the Peacocks battled back to make it a game late in the second half. The Peacocks went on an 11-0 run to cut the margin to 60-54 with 6:20 to play in the game which was capped off by a Hughes layup before the Bulldogs called a timeout to talk things over.

Both teams traded baskets back-and-forth throughout the remaining minutes as UIU tied the matchup once and came within one point twice, but in the end, the Bulldogs found a way to take the NSIC matchup, 73-71.

Hughes led Upper Iowa with 18 points by going five-of-eight from the floor and seven-of-nine from the free throw line. Matt Lesan added 11 while Tucker Wentzien chipped in eight points and led both teams with nine rebounds. UIU shot 46.4% from the field while UMD converted 28-of 49 shots (57.1%) and turned the ball over three more times than the Peacocks.