The Peacock men's basketball team experienced Déjà vu Saturday night when they faced the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State. Last season, UIU (1-1) started the year with a loss against NMSU (1-1) where the Peacocks were tied 18-18 early, but went into the halftime break down 44-31. Upper Iowa was unable to overcome the first half deficit and lost 91-78. Today, Upper Iowa had the game tied at 29-29 late in the first half, but went into the locker room for halftime down 40-33. The Peacocks again were unable to overcome trailing at halftime and lost 91-83.
Sophomore guard
Jace Hanna, who knocked down the game-sealing free throws yesterday, became the first Peacock to record a double-double since Tucker Wentzien on Mar. 3, 2013. Hanna had 12 points and 12 rebounds, the latter of which led UIU. He has now scored in double figures in back-to-back games to start the year after scoring 10+ points just once last season.
Junior Jordan Hay came off the bench to lead Upper Iowa with 16 points including 8 of 9 shooting at the charity stripe. Josh Weeber poured in 14 for his second straight game in double figures. Junior transfer Jarrod Gamble had 9 points and 6 boards, while Jimmy Roth and Grant Lang shot just 3-of-9 each, scoring 8 a piece. Hanna added 4 assists to lead UIU and Lang added three.
The Peacocks shot 45% (29-65) from the floor as a team and had 9 steals, but allowed the Bearcats to shoot 53% (29-55) from the field and from three-point range (10-19). Both teams shot well from the free throw line as Northwest Missouri State went 23-27 (85%), while UIU improved drastically from the last game, shooting 81% (17-21) tonight compared to 66% (25-38) against Fort Hays State.
Neither team could take control during the majority of the first half. The game was tied 29-29 with 3:14 remaining in the opening period before the Bearcats went on a 11-4 run sparked by 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-3 on trifectas. The late rally put Northwest Missouri State up 40-33 going into halftime.
UIU brought the game to within three points on two occasions early in the second half with baskets by Gamble and Hanna, but the Bearcats always had an answer and would never relinquish the lead. Northwest Missouri State stretched the lead to double digits midway through the second half and maxed out the lead at 16 with just under two minutes to play. UIU fought to the end as Hay (7 points) and Hanna (5) tried to push the Peacocks back into the game, outscoring the Bearcats 14-6 in the last 1:55. The late surge, however, was too late and Upper Iowa's run ran out of time.
The Peacocks open the home schedule next when they challenge in-state Division-III foe Waldorf College on Wednesday, Nov. 19 in Dorman Gymnasium. Tip off will be at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time here.
