The Upper Iowa men's basketball team opened the 2010-11 Northern Sun Conference season against the #4 Warriors of Winona State University.  The Peacocks rallied from an early defecit to pull within one just before halftime, but the visitors were outscored by sixteen over the final twenty-one minutes of the game as the Warriors pulled away to a 78-61 victory.  The win improved WSU's record to 5-0, while UIU fell to 1-4 in the early going.

The Peacocks came out strong thanks to baskets by Matt Lesan and Tucker Wentzien as the teams were tied 17-17 at the eleven minute mark of the first half.  Winona State used an 8-0 run to pull ahead over the next three minutes, but Upper Iowa did not let their hosts get away.  UIU battled back as the half wound down and trailed by just one, 34-33, with a minute and a half to play when Dan Bestul hit a three-pointer.  Winona State scored the final four points of the half to take a 38-33 advantage to the break.

UIU matched the home team out of halftime and found themselves down four, 47-43, with 12:46 to play when Wentzien connected on another jumper.  Anothern Warrior run, this time a 7-0 run, pushed the margin to eleven, 54-43, with under ten to play.  The Peacocks still trailed by eleven with five minutes to play, but the Warriors pulled away to the seventeen-point win over the final minutes.

Lesan led the Peacocks with 17 points including a pair of trifectas and five at the charity stripe.  Wentzien added 14 points and pulled down 6 rebounds.  Jake Hughes handed out four assists, while Bestul and Brad Arnold each added three.

UIU will head back into northern Minnesota next weekend for a pair of NSIC games. On Friday, Dec. 10, the Peacocks will be at Minnesota Duluth for an 8:00 p.m. tipoff. On Saturday, Dec. 11, Upper Iowa will head to Bemidji State for a 6:00 p.m. start.