Box Score
The Golden Bears of Concordia University, St. Paul claimed their rematch with the Peacocks tonight in the Twin Cities. The home team used big advantages in second chance and fastbreak points to edge Upper Iowa by a 79-74 score. With the loss, UIU falls to 7-13 overall and 4-12 in the NSIC, while CU improved to 9-11 overall and 6-10 in conference games.
The home team took a 5-0 lead and held the Peacocks off the scoreboard for the first three and a half minutes, but as soon as UIU put their first points up, the Golden Bears had little answer for the Peacock post players. Tucker Wentzien scored the Peacocks' first 5 points and then Mike Lafrenz put in the next 11 points. Upper Iowa did not get a score from someone else until the 6:17 mark in the first half when Jake Hughes hit a three-pointer to tie the score at 19-19. The Golden Bears outscored their guests 12-8 over the final minutes to take a 31-27 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.
A pair of Peacock jumpers from Brad Arnold and Trevor Hook knotted the score at 37-37 less than five minutes into the second half, but minutes later, Concordia led 49-39 fueled by a 12-2 run that was highlighted by a pair of three-pointers for the Golden Bears.
Upper Iowa was able to cut the margin back to three points, 53-50, thanks to a pair of trifectas from Hook and Sam Elgin at the midway point of the second half. Concordia pushed their lead back to 8 quickly and never let the Peacocks get any closer than four points until the final minute. The margin bounced between four and nine points most of the final ten minutes.
After the Golden Bears pushed their lead to nine, 73-64, with 28 seconds to play, the Peacocks mounted a furious rally that fell just short. UIU cut the margin to three, 75-72, after a three-pointer from Bo Pagel and five points from Joey Woods.
Concordia hit all four of their free throws in the final ten seconds to post the 79-74 victory.
PEACOCK STAT LEADERS |
* Tucker Wentzien... 17 pts, 10 reb || * Sam Elgin... 15 pts, 8 reb, 5 assists || * Mike Lafrenz... 13 pts, 3 reb || * Jake Hughes... 7 pts, 5 assists, 4 reb || * Joey Woods... 7 pts, 5 assists, 2 reb |
GOLDEN BEAR STAT LEADERS |
* Peter Olafeso... 24 pts, 11 reb, 5 assists || * Kenny Olafeso... 18 pts, 11 reb, 5 assists || * Isaiah Thomas... 12 pts, 3 reb || * Cordell Smith... 12 pts, 2 reb || * Brent Barz... 6 pts, 11 reb, 5 blocks, 3 assists |
NEXT UP FOR THE PEACOCKS...
Upper Iowa will head west to St. Cloud State University to face the #20 Huskies tomorrow evening. The Peacocks and Huskies will tip at approximately 6 p.m. following the women's game. |