The Peacocks men's basketball team snapped a three-game winning streak with a loss to the Minot State Beavers, 88-83 on Friday night at the MSU Dome in Minot, N.D. Upper Iowa trailed by as many as 17 in the second half, but cut the lead to four on multiple occasions late, only to have the Beavers go 8-for-8 in the final 35 seconds from the free throw line.
Tyler Rudolph scored 27 points to lead Minot State. The sophomore from Bismarck, N.D., was 10-17 from the field, including 3-4 from three point range, and has now scored 25 or more points in his last three games. Rudolph scored 16 of his points in the second half as the Beavers (8-9, 3-8 NSIC) beat the Peacocks (9-11, 5-6 NSIC) for the first time in seven meetings between the two schools.
Minot State went on a 14-2 run midway through the first half to grab a 12-point lead with 8:41 remaining in the first half and that would be the halftime deficit as the Peacocks trailed, 50-38, at the break.
The Beavers came out strong in the second half, going up by 17, 71-54, with less than 10 minutes to play. Over the next seven minutes, UIU went on a 21-9 run, highlighted by an 11-12 stretch at the free throw line, that cut the Beaver lead to 5, 80-75.
But Upper Iowa went cold over the final two minutes, going just 3-of-7 from the field and 1-for-5 from the charity stripe, while the Beavers were 8-for-8 on free throws in the final 35 seconds.
The Peacocks struggled from the field, shooting just 38.7% (24-62), while Minot State was an efficient 29-of-60 (48.3%). The Beavers also held the advantage from the free throw line, missing just once in 22 attempts (95.5%), while UIU was still a solid 28-for-34 (82.4%).
Jimmy Roth had 20 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Carson Parker added 18 points and six rebounds, while
Jernell Hughes chipped in 14 with six boards.
Josh Weeber rounded out the Peacocks in double figures with 13.
Upper Iowa is back in action tomorrow night in Bismarck, N.D., to take on the University of Mary. The game will follow the Peacock women's game against the Marauders and is set to tipoff at 6 p.m.
