Box Score
Box Score
 
Despite some early mistakes and missed shots, nothing could stop the Upper Iowa men’s basketball team from opening their 97^th season on the hardwood with a victory. That was bad news for the visiting William Jewel Cardinals and their legendary coach Larry Holley.
 
The Peacocks trailed by eight at halftime after shooting just 31 percent from the floor in the first period. But UIU bounced back with a resounding 43 points in the second half as they earned the 68-60 victory in non-conference play.
 
Senior wing Sam Elgin led the way for the Peacocks in scoring in both the first and second half. The Center Point, Iowa native pulled UIU to within one half way through the first period as he snagged an offensive rebound at the rim and slammed the ball home.
 
Less than two minutes later, he hit a three to give UIU a 14-10 lead with 8:45 left to play in the first period.
 
Momentum swung the Cardinals’ way as they tied the game at 19-19 with a jumper from Dillon Deck, who finished with a team-high 20 points. WJC finished the half on a 14-6 run and took a 33-25 lead into halftime.
 
In the second half, the Peacocks slowly started to chip away at the WJC lead.
 
First, sophomore guard Bo Pagel hit his only three of the game to cut the Cardinal lead to four. Then, senior guard Jake Hughes pulled UIU within one thanks to another three.
 
It wasn’t until Hughes’ second three-pointer of the game that the Peacocks finally started to pull away. The Cedar Rapids native hit a jumper from downtown to give UIU a 50-49 lead with 7:28 left.
 
Elgin extended that lead to three with a jumper before Hughes hit back-to-back-to-back free throws, giving UIU a 55-49 lead.
 
Despite being held to just 2-of-9 shooting in the game, senior center Tucker Wentzien made his presence felt with crisp passing. In UIU’s high-post offense, almost every play starts with Wentzien controlling the ball from 16-feet out and on Sunday, he did not disappoint.
 
With just 1:52 left, Pagel cut to the hoop and Wentzien found him for the easy layup. On UIU’s next possession, it was Hughes’ turn to find a slashing Pagel, who gave the Peacocks a 65-58 lead with another layup with less than one minute left.
 
UIU shot 57 percent from the floor in the second half and closed out the 68-60 victory with three final free throws.
 
Elgin led UIU, going 6-for-6 from the charity stripe as the Peacocks shot 71.4 percent from the line. 10 of Elgin’s team-high 15 points came in the second half.
 
Hughes went 3-for-6 from the floor and was second in scoring with 12 points. He also collected six rebounds and dished out two assists.
 
Joey Woods had three of five total steals and recorded a block for UIU, while Pagel hit the double-digit mark with 10 points.
 
The Peacocks will now hit the road for six straight games, the final three of which will be against NSIC-opponents. Up next for UIU is Truman State with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Kirksville, Missouri.
 
Click here to follow the live stats of that game.