Box Score Box Score

The Peacocks (8-6, 4-4 NSIC) shot just 20.7 percent (6-29) in the second half en route to an 80-67 loss to the Wolves of Northern State (12-2, 6-2 NSIC) on Saturday night. Upper Iowa took a three point lead into the halftime break but was outscored 45 to 29 in the latter period.

Jordan Hay led UIU with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals, while Grant Lang and Bo Pagel added 11 points apiece. 

Neither team could find the bottom of the net to start the game. The first 10 possessions combined for 0-for-9 shooting and a turnover before Pagel knocked down the game's first basket over three minutes into the game. 

Then, UIU found its range. The Peacocks scored on five of their next seven possessions, building an 11-point lead, 13-2. But NSU slowly chipped away at the lead, pulling within one on two separate occassions before another Pagel bucket gave Upper Iowa a three point halftime advantage.

Northern State quickly erased the halftime deficit and took its first lead of the game at 43-41 two minutes into the second half. A Jace Hanna three pointer tied the game, 45-45, at the 16:27 mark. However, that would be the last Peacock field goal for over five minutes. During that span, the Wolves stretched their lead to 12 points before a Josh Weeber three cut the lead back to single digits. 

But again the Peacocks went cold. This time UIU went over nine minutes without a field goal, shooting 0-for-12 from the field with 3 turnovers. UIU finished the game with six points in the last two minutes, but it was too little too late as the Wolves shot 62.1 percent (18-29) in the second half and led by as many as 18. 

Upper Iowa returns home to Dorman Gym for the first time in the new year next weekend when they host Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls in NSIC play. The game on Friday night will tip off at 8 p.m. and Saturday's game will begin at 6 p.m.