Box Score
The Peacocks took to the hardwood in Dorman Gym versus the Wolves of Northern State in a Northern Sun Conference tilt that had been delayed two days by a severe winter storm in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The two teams battled in a defensive struggle that saw Upper Iowa win their second straight NSIC home game on a last second shot, 58-57.
Northern State crept out to an 11-6 lead seven minutes into the contest and extended their lead to 17-10 as the clock read 7:03 to play in the half. Upper Iowa outscored their guests 8-5 over the final minutes of the half and headed to the locker room down four, 22-18, after a Wolves’ layup at the buzzer was waved off.
Neil Gross led the Peacocks off the bench with 6 points, while Collin Pryor paced the Wolves with 6 points as well. While the Wolves shot 43%, they were forced into 11 turnovers.
The margin continued to hover around four points as the Peacocks turned up the full court pressure and forced several more turnovers by their opponents. Trailing 44-40 with under eight minutes to play, Dan Bestul and Mike Lafrenz hit back-to-back buckets to tie the game. The Peacocks then took their first lead, 46-44, since the 16:30 mark of the first half on a Jake Hughes floater in the lane.
Minutes later the Wolves recaptured a two-point lead, 50-48, thanks to a pair of Brett Newton free throws. Pryor gave NSU a five-point lead as he converted a three-point play after being fouled on a drive to the hoop. Bestul got the home team back within one possession, 53-50, as he stole the ball and finished on the opposite end.
The UIU defense made yet another stand and Lafrenz hit a jumper in the paint thanks to a Bestul assist to close the gap to one, 53-52, with under two minutes to play. David Lane answered quickly for the Wolves with a tough runner to restore Northern State’s three-point advantage. Bestul once again stepped to the forefront hitting a pair of free throws to get UIU within one, 55-54.
Lafrenz caught a post entry on the right block, backed his way down and turned to the middle to hit a jumper which gave the home team a one-point lead with 15.2 on the clock. Lane once again took the ball hard to the basket and was fouled; the Wolves junior hit both attempts and put UIU down one with 8.4 to play.
Bestul took the inbounds pass and pushed hard up the right sideline. Once the senior reached the corner, he used a crossover dribble to create space and nailed his second straight game winning shot for Upper Iowa. The shot went through the net with two seconds on the clock and NSU’s final pass was stolen by Lesan to give UIU their second straight thrilling victory.
Bestul and Lafrenz each netted 13 points to lead UIU, while Tucker Wentzien added 10. Wentzien and Alex Kramer both pulled down 6 rebounds, while Bestul and Matt Lesan combined for 7 assists and 6 steals.
Collin Pryor led all scorers with 20 points for the Wolves; he also added 6 rebounds.
The Peacocks (4-6, 3-3 NSIC) will return to Dorman Gym for a match up with the Marauders of U-Mary tomorrow night, following the women’s game at approximately 8 p.m.
