For just the third time in the last sixteen meetings, the Peacocks defeated the Warriors of Winona State University, 90-76. UIU scored 50 second half points, shooting 48-percent from the field, including 8-of-18 from beyond the arc and 18-of-21 from the free throw line. The Peacocks iced the game away in the final 1:41, scoring nine points and shooting 7-of-8 from the free throw line.

The start of the this game couldn't have been any different from the previous meeting between these two teams. On Nov. 29, the Peacocks Jimmy Roth hit two three-pointers in the game's first minute and a half. Tonight, UIU didn't score their sixth point until nearly five minutes into the game as the Warriors took an early 8-5 lead. 

Upper Iowa overcame its early woes to make a 16-6 run and take control of the game midway through the opening half. A Grant Lang trifecta pushed the Peacocks to their largest lead of the half at 13. Winona State, undeterred, finished the half shooting 4-of-5 from the field to bring the halftime deficit to six as the Peacocks led 40-34.

UIU quickly pushed their lead back to double digits with three straight three pointers from Bo Pagel, Jarrod Gamble and Jace Hanna to start the second half.

Winona State closed the gap to seven with 4:22 left in the game, but Upper Iowa was able to hit their free throws late and continued to stretch the lead back to fourteen. The Warriors shot just 3-of-20 from beyond the arc, which attributed to their struggle in attempting to come back throughout the second half.

Luke Lenhart had 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three point range to lead the Peacocks, while Jordan Hay added 16 points and 7 rebounds, which led UIU.  Three other Peacocks, Pagel, Hanna and Josh Weeber each finished with 12 points, while Hanna and Lang each had 5 a team-high assists.

UIU heads into the Holiday break at 8-4 overall and 4-2 in NSIC play. UIU's next game will be Jan. 2, when they travel to Moorhead, Minnesota to take on the Dragons of MSUM.