GAMES SEVEN || DECEMBER 5, 2014 || 8:00 PM SIOUX FALLS, S.D. || STEWART CENTERSIOUX FALLS: LIVE STATS || LIVE VIDEO
GAME EIGHT || DECEMBER 6, 2014 || 7:00 PMMARSHALL, MINN. || R/A FACILITYWINONA STATE: LIVE STATS || LIVE VIDEO
WEEKLY NOTES
UPPER IOWA || SIOUX FALLS || SOUTHWEST MINN STATE || NORTHERN SUN
THIS WEEKEND IN MEN'S BASKETBALL Upper Iowa basketball looks to get back on the winning side of the NSIC standings with a pair of conference divisional games against the Cougars of Sioux Falls and the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs. UIU went 2-1 last week, knocking off Missouri Western State 82-70 and Iowa Wesleyan 116-66 before dropping the opening game of the NSIC season against Winona State, 89-70. The Peacocks hold an all-time record of 4-2 over Sioux Falls, while Southwest Minnesota State has gotten the better of Upper Iowa in 15 of 18 matchups.
KEY NOTES TO CONSIDER 1 FAMILIAR TERRITORY: When Brooks McKowen became UIU's head coach prior to the 2013-14 season, he had spent the previous two years as an assistant coach at Southwest Minnesota State. During his time in Marshall, the Mustangs were 35-25. Assistant coach Matt Fletcher was also a standout for the Mustang basketball team from 2004-05 to 2007-08, finishing as the school's all-time leader in three-point field goals with 305 and was a three-time second team All-NSIC honoree.
2 HANNA'S EXPANDED GAME: Sophomore guard Jace Hanna has started the season as the most improved Peacock, if not in the NSIC. After averaging 3.4 points and 2 rebounds in 2013-14, Hanna has scored in double figures every game this year and is averaging 12 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
3 FRESH LEGS: Newcomers Jarrod Gamble and Carson Parker have been solid contributors for UIU early in the season. Gamble has started all six games and is fifth on the team in total minutes played, averaging 7.7 points and shooting 8-of-18 from three point range. Parker has played the fourth most minutes this year, despite coming off the bench in every game, and is averaging 7.2 points, 3.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds.
THE SERIES...VS SIOUX FALLS: UIU is 4-2 all-time against the Cougars including wins in 3 of the last 4 matchups between the two teams over the last two seasons.
VS SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE: The Peacocks are 3-15 all-time against the Mustangs. The Peacocks had lost five straight to SMSU until last January, when the Peacocks beat the Mustangs 96-75 in Marshall, Minn.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS... SIOUX FALLS: The Cougars are 2-4 overall and 0-1 in NSIC play after falling to Southwest Minnesota State. USF is led by Charles Ward (17.2 ppg) and Mack Johnson (15.2 ppg). The two wins for Sioux Falls have come against Missouri Southern State (88-83 OT) in the Sanford Pentagon Basketball Showcade and Young Harris (82-76) in the Barry University Thanksgiving Classic.SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE: The Mustangs are 5-2 this season and 1-0 in conference, having beaten Sioux Falls in NSIC play. SMSU has won three of their last four games, losing only to #20 Michigan Tech. Southwest Minnesota State is led by a trio of players averaging double figures, Joey Bartlett (13.3), Cole Martin (12.7) and Mitch Weg (11.9).
