Box Score
Box Score

Despite a strong shooting performance and bright defensive moments in the second half of Sunday’s Bearcat Classic matchup against the University of Central Missouri, the Peacocks could not pull out a victory. The Mules, who held a 12-point lead at the half, controlled a double-digit lead for most of Sunday’s regional non-conference matchup with the Peacocks and earned the win, 74-67, in Maryville, Missouri.
 
Upper Iowa, which has dropped its last two games, now sits at 2-2 and will begin NSIC-conference play next Saturday at Winona State.
 
After falling to the host Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State on Saturday, the Peacocks looked to get back on track early against the Mules.
 
UIU had the momentum early as they jumped out to an 8-5 lead thanks to Jake Hughes’ only 3-pointer of the game and a three-point play by Jake Shonka.  That’s when the Mule defense switched to man-to-man and the momentum shifted.
 
UCM went on a 23-0 run over an eight-minute span and by the time the Peacock offense kicked in gear they were in catch-up mode.
 
The Mules also capitalized on 10 UIU turnovers in the first period, converting those mistakes in 12 points the other way. But the Peacocks pulled within 12, 42-30, just before halftime thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers from both Grant Lang and Bo Pagel. UCM 42 first half points was the most points the Peacocks have allowed this year. 
 
“We scored on them quick then they switched to man,” coach Brian Dolan said. “By time we broke out of that funk we were down twenty.”
 
After being outscored 24-8 inside the paint in the first half, the Peacocks responded by going to their big man inside. Tucker Wentzien, who had only two points in the first half after getting in foul trouble, tallied 14 of his team-high 16 points in the second half.
 
Lang also had a good game as he posted nearly identical numbers in both the first and second periods. After struggling from three over the past two games, Lang finally found some rhythm from beyond the arc. He connected on 4-of-8 threes in the game and the 6-foot-3 sophomore from Ankeny finished tied with Wentzien for a team-high 16 points and reached double-digits in points for the first time this season.
 
The Peacocks would eventually cut the Mule lead to eight thanks to a three-point play from Sam Elgin, but it was too little too late. With only 48 seconds remaining, the Mules, who fell to Southwest Minnesota State in their opening game of the Bearcat Classic, sunk their free throws and sealed the 74-67 win, improving to 3-1 this year.
 
The Peacocks and coach Dolan must now look ahead to the Winona State Warriors, who were a preseason pick to win the NSIC, to try to get back in the win column.
 
“We thought we competed pretty well throughout our non-conference schedule,” Dolan said. “We went 2-2 and we played some teams as good as Winona State and we had chances to beat those teams. We have to get better at practice this week and get in the mindset to beat Winona.”
 
The Peacocks and Warriors square off at McCown Gymnasium in Winona, Minnesota on Saturday, December 1^st at 6 PM. Click here to hear the audio broadcast of that game, or click here to follow the live stats.