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The Peacock men's basketball team won their third straight game thanks to a strong defensive effort and hard work on the glass.  Upper Iowa claimed a 55-51 victory over Wayne State in Dorman tonight to improve their record to 7-10 overall and 4-9 in the NSIC. 

Tucker Wentzien led the Peacocks with 17 points and 8 rebounds, while eight other UIU players made marks in the scoring column.  Upper Iowa shot 43.9% from the floor while holding Wayne State to just 36.4%.  The men in blue also outrebounded their guests by 16, 36-20, and only allowed the Wildcats four offensive rebounds.

The teams were tied at 8-8 just over five minutes into the game, but Upper Iowa used a 9-2 run over the next four minutes to take their largest lead, 17-10, of the first half.  Over the final ten minutes of the opening stanza, the Wildcat defense stiffened as the visitors rallied cutting the gap to one, 23-22, with two minutes to play.  Sam Elgin hit a three-pointer from the corner prior to the buzzer to give the Peacocks a 26-22 lead at the break.

Upper Iowa came out of halftime and pushed their lead to double digits, 43-33, seven minutes into action fueled by ten points from Wentzien.  The Wayne State defense took control over the next nine minutes holding UIU to just three points on free throws.  The Peacocks struggles during that span were due to eight turnovers during the nine-minute span.

After the Wildcats claimed a 47-46 lead, the Peacocks fired back with a 7-2 run that gave the a four-point lead, 53-49, with 1:37 to play.  A Wentzien three-point play sparked the rally for UIU.

Wayne State closed the gap to two with 46 seconds to play, but Upper Iowa played solid defense and Wentzien recorded the final two points of the night with a pair of free throws with two seconds to play to seal the win, 55-51.