Box Score Records
 
Upper Iowa (8-11, 6-7 NSIC) || Concordia (5-12, 2-11 NSIC)
 

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Recap
 
A first half hole proved too much for the Upper Iowa Men's Basketball team on Friday night. The Peacocks fell behind by double-digits less than eight minutes into their game against Concordia St. Paul. The Golden Bears used that momentum and a few timely baskets to shock UIU on its home court, 81-69, in conference play.
 
The loss moves UIU below .500 in league play at 6-7, while Concordia picks up just its second win in conference play this year. The Golden Bears' Cordell Smith led all scorers with 21 points thanks to 8-of-13 shooting, while Grant Lang led the Peacocks with 16 points. Bo Pagel added 11 points, while Joey Woods chipped in 14 points, 4 boards, 4 assists and a pair of blocks, but it wasn't enough.
 
The 69 points from UIU was the third-lowest offensive output under first-year Head Coach Brooks McKowen as the Peacocks hit 29-percent of their shots in the first half and only 36-percent in the second.
 
Despite the Golden Bears hitting two free throws and getting on the scoreboard first, the Peacocks looked good early on. Josh Weeber drilled a pair of threes, but regardless of any momentum favoring the Peacocks, UIU was silent over the next two minutes as CU went on a 6-0 run.
 
The Peacocks cut into that run with two freebies from Jimmy Roth, but CU went on another run, this one being a 7-0 spurt spanning a minute and a half. The Peacocks finally started to cut into their deficit as Bo Pagel found the net on a drive and layup off the glass. Lang connected on a three-ball 28 seconds later to pull UIU within seven, 20-13.
 
After a CU layup on the other end and a timeout, Roth and Joey Woods nailed back-to-back trifectas as the Peacocks inched their way back into the game. The Golden Bears went back on the attack and stole any UIU momentum with a 9-5 run over the next three minutes highlighted by a Chris Halvorsen dunk.
 
Back on their heels, the Peacocks responded by attacking the hoop. First, Pagel got to the rim and scored, then Smith drove and was fouled. He nailed the two ensuing free throws as the Peacocks closed the gap to three point, 31-28, with six minutes left in the first half.
 
The teams exchanged threes on their next possessions before CU found another offensive spurt. The Golden Bears scored the next four points and 8 of the next ten to regain a nine-point lead, 42-33, at the half. David Smith had the only points during that stretch for UIU as he took a loose ball coast to coast and converted a tough left-handed layup.
 
The Peacocks, who shot just 29-percent from the floor in the first half, started to find a rhythm early in the second. Woods and Jace Hanna cut the Golden Bear lead five, 42-37, after back-to-back layups. Cordell Smith helped CU find an answer as he scored five straight points for the visitors.
 
That's when the Peacocks went back to Lang and the junior wing responded. First, he hit back-to-back jumpers, adding a free throw on the second bucket to push his scoring total into double-digits at 11. Both Smith's exchanged a pair of buckets as Cordell hit two for CU and David followed suit for UIU.
 
Neither team could sustain a run, but Lang kept UIU within striking distance. The Ankeny, Iowa native hit five straight points for UIU as the Peacocks hung at a six-point deficit, 58-52. Yet, just as soon as UIU pulled close, Concordia pulled away. CU's Travon Mitchell kept his foot on the gas scoring the next six points for the Golden Bears. Halvorsen added a layup after a missed free throw and suddenly UIU was in a 12-point hole, 66-54, with 6:20 left in regulation.
 
Once again, the Peacocks inched their way back. Pagel stopped the bleeding with a three from the corner. Roth added a free throw before Jordan Hay hit a jumper. Pagel then struck again. This time, the Sumner, Iowa native hit a long ball from the top of the key to put him in double-digits.
 
Down by just five, 69-64, the Peacocks couldn't sustain any momentum. The Golden Bears stopped the 6-0 UIU run with five straight points of their own. Woods added a layup and late three with just 22 seconds on the clock, but CU ended the game on a 12-5 run and sealed the 12-point victory.
  

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UIU Standouts

 Lang (16 points, 1 steal), Woods (14 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks), Pagel (11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists), Smith (9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists)
 

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Up Next
 
The Peacocks will to bounce back tomorrow night as they host the Mavericks of Minnesota State at 4 p.m. inside Dorman Gym. MSU took a convincing 95-56 victory from UIU earlier this season.