For the second time this season, the Peacocks got a career-high out of a player to beat the Beavers of Minot State in Dorman Gym. The first time around it was Grant Lang with a career-best 31 points in a 107-101 double-OT thriller on Jan. 16. Tonight it was the other Peacock senior's turn as Bo Pagel poured in a career-high 30 to lead UIU to a 97-85 victory over the Beavers. With the win, Upper Iowa moves to 6-0 all-time against Minot State.

In a fast and furious first five minutes, it was a question of which team would flinch first. The Peacocks started 9-of-11 from the floor, while the Beavers hit 7-of-10 to start the game as UIU held an early 20-18 lead.

Back-to-back Pagel trifectas helped Upper Iowa build a seven-point lead with 7:31 remaining in the opening period, but an 11-6 run by the visiting Beavers cut the Peacock halftime lead to one, 44-43.

To start the second half, UIU went to the hoop early and often. Pagel scored eight points in the first four minutes of the second half, punctuated with a fast break dunk to give UIU a 58-51 lead.

Back-to-back Jernell Hughes three pointers capped off a 12-2, five minute stretch for the Peacocks and pushed their lead to 16 with 10:52 remaining in the game. The second bomb for Hughes came after the fourth offensive rebound of the possession and looked like it would bury the Beavers.

But with just under five minutes left, the Peacocks hit a wall, turning the ball over four times in five possessions. The Beavers took advantage, cutting the lead to eight, 89-81, with three trifectas in 90 seconds.

That, however, would be the closest Minot State would get as Upper Iowa took control back from their visitors and cruised to a 97-85 victory.

Pagel's career-high led UIU, but Jordan Hay added an efficient 17 points, knocking down all seven of his shots. Grant Lang was the only other Peacock in double figures, scoring 11 points and adding a season-high seven assists.

UIU is now off to Sioux Falls, S.D., for the quarterfinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament, where they will face the Dragons of Minnesota State University Moorhead. The game will be played Sunday, Mar. 1, at 12 p.m. at the Sanford Dome and will be the first of the four quarterfinal games that day.