Box Score The Peacocks men's basketball team opened the season at the CCA Tip-Off in Anaheim, California with a 74-71 loss against the Seawolves of Alaska Anchorage. Upper Iowa held an 11-point lead in the second half, but a 17-0 run by UAA allowed Alaska Anchorage to take the lead late. UIU shot 10-of-30 from three point range, but just 7-of-14 from the charity stripe in the loss.
 
Both teams traded baskets to start the game, but a pair of Dennis Austin III layups and a Jimmy Roth trifecta gave UIU an early 7-0 run and a 14-10 lead six minutes into the first half.
 
With each team running up and down the court, taking quick shots, it appeared as though it would be a game of runs. An Alaska Anchorage 8-0 run gave the Seawolves a 20-19 lead as junior forward Corey Hammell had an and-one and a three.
 
Late in the half, UAA used a 12-2 run to take a 36-31 lead into the halftime break.
 
Upper Iowa went on a 14-1 run over a four minute stretch midway through the second half, including a 10-0 stretch capped off with Josh Weeber and Luke Lenhart knocking home a pair of trifectas to take a 58-49 lead with 9:02 left in the game.
 
With less than eight minutes remaining, the Seawolves started a 17-0 run as Upper Iowa went cold and UAA took the lead, 69-63. Weeber finally ended the Anchorage run with a jumper with 1:35 remaining, ending a six-minute UIU scoreless drought and a seven-minute period for the Peacocks without a field goal.
 
With 35 ticks left in the game, Jernell Hughes knocked down Upper Iowa's 10th three-point basket of the game to cut the UAA lead to 73-71. Then, UIU had a chance to tie or take the lead when Roth came up with a steal with 16.6 seconds left in the game, but the Peacock possession came up empty. UAA knocked down a late free throw to extend their lead to 74-71, which would hold as UIU's desperation heave missed the mark.
 
Weeber led all Peacocks with 22 points and was 4-of-6 from distance, while Lenhart had 10 points and made 2-of-4 threes. Freshman Ethan Steinbronn got his first taste of college basketball in the first half and was a mismatch on both ends of the floor. The Westgate, Iowa native made an impact early and finished the game with 8 points and 8 rebounds. Austin III also made his Peacock debut, tallying 8 points and 5 boards.

Upper Iowa will be on the court tomorrow afternoon when they take on No. 15 Western Washington at 1:15 p.m. The game will have live coverage with stats and an internet radio broadcast.