Upper Iowa took on the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State for their final Northern Sun game of 2011 tonight in Marshall, Minnesota. Upper Iowa led all but three minutes of the first half but the teams exchanged blows in the second. In the end, SMSU sunk six clutch free throws to down UIU by a score of 73-67. Southwest Minnesota State improves to 5-5 overall and 4-2 in conference play. The Peacocks fall to 3-6 and 0-5 in the NSIC. 

In the first half, the visitors shot over 50% (12-21) from the field and outrebounded the Mustangs 17-8 including 13-4 on the defensive glass eliminating second and third opportunities for the Mustangs. UIU also went seven of eight from the free throw line while Southwest didn’t attempt a single free throw in the first 20 minutes. Upper Iowa took a 35-32 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, the score was tied seven times along with nine lead changes. It was tied for the final time with eight minutes to go in the game, 52-52, before the Mustangs took the lead and didn’t look back. The Peacocks would cut the deficit to two with 1:33 to play in the game on a dunk from Tucker Wentzien. From then on, the game would be decided from the free throw line where Upper Iowa made two and Southwest converted on all six of their final six free throw attempts to take the six-point win, 73-67.