Box Score
The Peacock men's basketball team hung tough with the Braves of Bradley University, an NCAA Division I member of the Missouri Valley Conference, tonight in Peoria, Ill. Upper Iowa only trailed by three points at halftime, but a pair of runs by the home team allowed the Braves to post a 68-54 victory.
The Braves jumped out to a pair of five-point leads in the early going, but Upper Iowa was able to answer each of them. The Peacocks got ahead by one, 18-17, on a three-pointer from
Sam Elgin. UIU kept their slim lead, 22-21, thanks to back-to-back jumpers from Mike Lafrenz. UIU's largest lead of the night, 25-23, came after
Cedric Collins nailed a three-pointer with just over three minutes to play. With the score tied 28-28, Bradley claimed a three-point lead at the buzzer on a trifecta from Jake Eastman.
Bradley opened the second half by outscoring their guests 20-6 over the first seven minutes to extend their lead to 17 points, 51-34. UIU's offense went cold the team turned the ball over four times in the opening minutes. Upper Iowa cut the gap back to 13 points, 54-41, with seven minutes to play when
Tucker Wentzien netted a jumper and then hammered a dunk home on back-to-back possessions. The Peacocks would not get any closer falling by a 68-54 count in the end.
Upper Iowa shot 49% for the game and 42% from behind the arc hitting 5 of 12 triples. Turnovers (24) limited the Peacocks' offense, but did win the rebounding battle, 27-20, holding the Braves to just one offensive board.
Wentzien led the Peacocks with 16 points, while Lafrenz, a fellow post player, chipped in 11 points. The pair combined to shoot 13 of 20 from the floor. Wentzien also pulled down a team-high 5 rebounds, while Elgin grabbed 4 boards.
Bo Pagel handed out 4 assists, while Collins registered 5 steals in the game.
Following a final exhibition game at Souther Illinois in Carbondale, Ill. on Nov. 3, the Peacocks will open the season on Sunday, Nov. 11, at home in Dorman Gymnasium. Upper Iowa will face the Cardinals of William Jewell College at 1 p.m.
UIU's non-conference schedule continues with a game in Kirksville, Mo. against Truman State on Nov. 14. Their final two non-conference contests will be against Northwest Missouri State University and the University if Central Missouri as part of the Northwest Missouri State Classic in Maryville, Missouri.
