In a physical game, UIU went hard to the hoop, outscoring UMC 34-22 in the paint and used tough defense to hold Minnesota Crookston to 36.2 percent shooting on their way to a 63-55 victory. The Peacocks pounded the glass, outrebounding the Golden Eagles 40-33, marking just the fifth time all year that Upper Iowa has outrebounded an opponent. The Peacocks are now 4-1 in such games.
Throughout the first half, UIU got to the hoop at will and jumped out to a 20-13 lead. Then Peacocks went cold, shooting just 2-of-11 in the final seven minutes, including a four-minute scoreless stretch to end the half. The Golden Eagles took advantage, ending the half on a 10-4 run to pull within one, 24-23.
The 24 points in the first half was a season-low for UIU, as the Peacocks shot just 31.3 percent (10-of-32) from the field and 22.2 percent (2-of-9) from beyond the arc. The 23 points for Minnesota Crookston was also a season-low for a UIU opponent in the opening half.
To start the second, the Peacocks went back to what worked early in the first and went to the hoop. It sparked a 12-3 for the Peacocks to open the period and gave UIU an early second half lead, 36-26. The Golden Eagles came back with three trifectas in four possessions in the midst of an 11-1 run, tying the game at 37-37. But a Bo Pagel old-fashioned three-point play ended the run and put the Peacocks ahead, 40-37.
Then with nine minutes left in the game, Upper Iowa picked it up on the defensive end. UIU got four straight stops and Grant Lang went on a 7-0 by himself to put the Peacocks ahead for good, 47-40.
Minnesota Crookston hung around as the Peacocks did their best to keep things interesting late, shooting just 6-of-14 from the free throw line in the final two minutes. The Golden Eagles, however, couldn't take advantage and never got within five before the clock hit zeros.Â
Luke Lenhart led UIU with 11 points, while Pagel was the only other Peacock in double figures, finishing with 10 points. Pagel, Carson Parker and Jarrod Gamble pulled down five rebounds to lead the way on the glass.Â
Upper Iowa will take on Bemidji State tomorrow, Saturday Jan. 31, in Dorman Gymnasium at 6:00 p.m.