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Official Athletics Site of the Upper Iowa Peacocks
Upper Iowa Peacocks
Mike Lafrenz

Men's Basketball Howie Thompson, Director of Sports Communication

Peacocks Put Out Dragon's Fire to Complete Sweep in Final Home Weekend

Upper Iowa 76 - MSU Moorhead 72

Box Score



The Peacocks outscored the Dragons of Minnesota State University Moorhead by seven points over the final three minutes of Saturday's NSIC match up to come from behind and claim a 76-72 win.  The victory completed a sweep for the home team in its final weekend in Fayette. 

With the win, Upper Iowa improves to 9-15 overall and 6-14 in the NSIC, while MSU Moorhead falls to 18-6 overall and 14-6 in conference play.  Prior to the game, the Peacock men's basketball program recognized their three seniors who have combined for 13 years of service to the team.  The seniors include Brad Arnold and Mark Lafrenz, as well as Domingo Kingsley, a student assistant coach.

Sam Elgin spent the majority of the second half on the Peacock bench after picking up his third and fourth fouls just three minutes into the period.  When he did return to the court, the junior wing scored 7 points in the final three and a half minutes including a huge three-pointer with 40 seconds to play that gave the home team their first lead since the 8:10 mark in the second half.  The trifecta gave UIU a 74-72 lead. 

After MSU Moorhead turned the ball over, the Peacocks returned the favor on the inbounds pass.  A Charlie Chapman three-pointer missed and Tucker Wentzien was there to pull down the board.  Wentzien calmly knocked down both free throws after he was fouled to give the Peacocks a 76-72 lead with just five seconds to play.

Prior to the late heroics, Upper Iowa's offense was fueled by balanced scoring that saw five Peacocks reach double figures in points.  Seniors Mark Lafrenz and Arnold combined for 23 points, but each scored in different ways.  While Lafrenz was dialing in his long range shooting, Arnold attacked the basket and added four assists.

The Dragons built their largest first half lead to six points thanks to a 15-6 run midway through the period.  In the second half, Upper Iowa climbed back in to the game after trailing by as many as seven taking a two-point lead on Mark Lafrenz's trifecta with 12:40 to play. 

The Peacocks pushed their advantage to six after a three-point play from Mike Lafrenz minutes later.  MSU Moorhead countered with a 15-4 run that took nearly five minutes off the clock, but the home team had one last charge for the fans in Dorman Gym.

Upper Iowa won the final five minutes, 21-12, to claim the NSIC victory and climb into eleventh place at the head of a group of three schools with six NSIC wins.

PEACOCK STAT LEADERS
* Mike Lafrenz... 14 pts, 7 reb || * Sam Elgin... 13 pts, 4 reb || * Tucker Wentzien... 12 pts, 6 reb || * Mark Lafrenz... 12 pts, 2 reb, 2 assists || * Brad Arnold... 11 pts, 4 assists
DRAGON STAT LEADERS
* DJ Hamilton... 21 pts, 3 assists, 2 steals || * Alex Novak... 17 pts, 9 reb || * Jake Driscoll... 11 pts
NEXT UP FOR THE PEACOCKS...

Upper Iowa will wrap up their 2011-12 season this coming Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25, on the road.  The Peacocks will face the Beavers of Bemidji State University on Friday at 8 p.m. in Bemidji, Minn. and the Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Duluth, Minn.









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