The Peacocks got a pair of trifectas early in the contest to lead 8-2, but U-Mary crept back into the game over the next eight minutes and tied the score at 14-14. The Marauders doubled up their hosts 12-6 over the final minutes to claim a 26-20 lead. The visitors took advantage of a 9-2 discrepancy in points off turnovers.

 

Dan Bestul led the Peacocks in the first half with 7 points as the team hit on only 6 of their 22 field goal attempts. The home team did win the first half rebounding battle 19-14 led by Mike Lafrenz’s 5 rebounds.

 

U-Mary pushed their lead to thirteen points, 42-29, midway through the second half thanks to holding the Peacocks scoreless for over seven minutes. As the clock wound down to the five minute mark, Upper Iowa rallied and cut the lead to four, 45-41, fueled by a 12-3 run. Four Marauder free throws sandwiched an inside bucket to push the margin back to ten, 51-41, with under three minutes to play.

 

With just over a minute to play, the home team got a quick four points to pull back within seven, 54-47. After a U-Mary free throw, Mark Lafrenz drained a three from the top of the key and closed the gap to five, 55-50. Matt Lesan hit another three for the home team after two more Marauder free throws to get the men in blue within four, 57-53, but U-Mary made their final eight free throw attempts to post a 65-56 NSIC victory.

Three Peacocks reached double figures led by Bestul's 11 points; Hughes and Mike Lafrenz added 10 apiece.  Sam Elgin and Mike Lafrenz each grabbed 5 boards, while Hughes handed out 6 assists.

The Marauders took advantage of a 31-17 free throw attempt advantage to outscore the home team by six at the charity stripe.  U-Mary was led by Anthony Moody's 22 points and 7 rebounds.  Eric Erdmann added 12 points and 9 rebounds.

The Peacocks will head to St. Cloud State and Concordia next Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 8 and 9.  Both games will start at approximately 4 p.m. after the women's games.