Box Score
The Peacocks trailed by five midway through the second half, but 12 points from Matt Lesan, as well as timely scoring from Brad Arnold, Dan Bestul and Alex Kramer delivered Upper Iowa’s first Northern Sun Conference win of the season. UIU defeated the Bemidji State Beavers 83-80 this evening thanks to a balanced scoring attack that featured six scorers with eight or more points.
Lesan led the Peacocks with 19 points including 12 in the final ten minutes of the ballgame. The Solon, Iowa native hit 5 of 11 shots including three from behind the arc and added 5 assists. Bestul shot 50% on the night to rack up his 16 points including five of the team’s final six points of the night to lock up the vicotry. Tucker Wentzien scored 12 and pulled down 5 boards, while Kramer scored 9 points including a big three-pointer in the closing minutes to help secure the win. Arnold and Sam Elgin each netted 8 points; Arnold also added a team-high 7 rebounds.
The teams played neck and neck through the majority of the first half, but as the half wound down the Beavers edged out to a six point lead. Elgin and Arnold hit back-to-back baskets over the final minute and a half to pull the Peacocks back within two, 40-38, at the break.
Upper Iowa trailed by five, 57-52, with 10:53 to play, but a 19-6 run over the next seven minutes gave the Peacocks a 71-63 lead with just over four minutes to play. The home team made one last run at the Peacocks tying the score at 74-74 with 1:30 on the clock. Kramer stepped up for UIU with a three-pointer, and following a Beaver turnover, Bestul knocked in another trifecta to give the visitors a six-point cushion, 80-74, with just 26 seconds to play. Bestul added a pair of free throws and Jake Hughes hit the final point for UIU to claim the 83-80 victory.
For the game, the Peacocks hit nearly 52% of their shots from the field and 33% from behind the three-point line.
Upper Iowa (2-5, 1-2 NSIC) will host their first NSIC home games of the season this coming weekend. The Peacocks will welcome the Mavericks of Minnesota State on Friday and the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip at approximately 8 p.m. in Dorman Gym following the women’s game.
