Box Score Box Score
Records
Upper Iowa (5-9, 3-5 NSIC) || Bemidji State (8-4, 5-3 NSIC)
Recap
For the second night in a row, the Upper Iowa Men's Basketball team hit 13 three-pointers – a season-high. Yet, in comparison to last night's 31-point win over Minnesota Crookston, the Peacocks were on the wrong end of the scoreboard. The Beavers of Bemidji State had three players score 20 or more points en route to a 102-89 NSIC victory at home.
The Peacocks had five players finish in double-figures led by
Joey Woods, who scored 15 points and finished with 7 assists for the fourth time this season, but it wasn't enough. The Peacocks' couldn't stop BSU's offense, especially Brock Lutes. Lutes led all scorers with 30 points on 12-of-16 shooting while adding 8 rebounds and 4 assists. BSU's Zach Noreen and Jake Schalow also torched the UIU defense as each finished with 22 points. UIU set a new season high with 16 steals and tied a season-high by forcing 20 BSU turnovers but the Beavers kept shooting. BSU finished the night with a 63-percent shooting clip, including a 53-percent mark from downtown.
After last night's 87-86 overtime loss to Winona State, the Beavers didn't suffer from another letdown. Getting a feel for each other, the teams were even over the opening five minutes.
Jimmy Roth added to his memorable highlight tape this season with a dunk at the 17:13 mark to tie the game at 6-6. A couple minutes later,
Jordan Hay gave UIU its first lead of the game, 10-9, with a layup in traffic. Answering for the Beavers, Jake Schalow hit back-to-back threes to ignite a 16-6 BSU run over the next 5 minutes.
UIU responded with its own run – a 12-4 spurt in three minutes thanks to treys from
Luke Lenhart and
Josh Weeber. A layup from
Bo Pagel at the 6:51 mark kept the Peacocks within striking distance, 29-28. But the Beavers answered right back with a near identical 12-4 run to retake a 9-point lead.
Grant Lang halted that BSU run and kept the Peacocks in the game thanks to a three-pointer from the top of the key.
Joey Woods then earned a steal on the defensive side of the ball and found Hay for a fast-break layup, cutting the Beavers' lead to just four, 41-37, with just 2:06 left in the opening half. After a three-point play from BSU, Lang hit his second three of the game and it looked as if UIU would hold just a four-point deficit at the break.
However, Lang's offensive burst didn't slow the Beavers down as BSU took a 49-42 lead into the break after another optimistic bucket from Lutes. The Beavers' guard got past the defense for a layup just before the buzzer sounded on the first half. Lutes finished the first half with a game-high 16 points, while UIU was led by Weeber who had 8 points in 11 minutes of action.
Weeber's strong offensive play continued in the second half as he and his fellow freshman Roth combined for five quick points to begin the second half – that was as close as UIU would get. The Peacocks trailed by just two points, 49-47, with 18:39 to play in regulation, but the Beavers went on another run and took complete control of the game.
Noreen hit a layup and a three on back-to-back possessions for BSU before Lang answered with his own trifecta. The Beavers hit a pair of free throws before Noreen earned another layup to give BSU a 58-50 lead with 14:50 remaining in regulation.
Lenhart made it a 9-6 BSU run with his second long-ball of the game, but the Beavers' wasn't over yet. Over the next four minutes, the Beavers used a 15-7 run to take a commanding 73-60 lead midway through the final period. UIU never pulled within single digits again as BSU wrapped up the 102-89 victory at home.
Stat of the Game
The Peacocks had a season-high 16 steals and forced 20 BSU turnovers, but only managed 24 points off those turnovers.
UIU Standouts
Woods (15 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals), Lang (14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal), Weeber (13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal), Roth (13 points, 4 assists, 2 steals), Hay (11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals),
Jace Hanna (8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals).
Up Next
The Peacocks will head home to host the Beavers of Minot State next Friday night in Fayette. Game time is set for 8 p.m. inside Dorman Gymnasium.
