The Peacock men's basketball team used a strong second half to defeat the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles 72-62 on Friday night in Crookston, Minn. Upper Iowa (12-12, 8-7 NSIC) outscored their hosts by 14 in the second half and shot 16-of-28 (57.1%) on their way to the 10-point victory. The loss drops UMC to 3-16 overall and 1-14 in conference play.
 
Josh Weeber scored 13 of his team-high 15 points in the second half, while Jernell Hughes added 10 of his 14 in the final 20 minutes. As a team, Upper Iowa outscored Minnesota Crookston 42-22 in the paint, with the Peacocks attempting a season-low 12 shots from beyond the arc. The Golden Eagles attempted more than half of their total shots, 35-of-66, from 3-point range, but only made 25.7% (9-35) from distance.
  
Neither team shot the ball particularly well in the first half, but the Golden Eagles held a 31-27 lead over the Peacocks after the opening 20 minutes. Upper Iowa was 10-of-29 (34.5%) from the floor and just 2-of-8 (25%) during the first half.
 
The second half was a different story as Upper Iowa. The Peacocks went from down four to up 10, 55-45, by starting the half 11-of-14 from the floor, including a 6-for-7 stretch in the first five minutes of the latter period. A late 6-0 run gave UIU a game-high 14-point lead, but UMC would cut it down to eight, 66-58, with 2:17 remaining. The Peacocks went on to hit 6-of-8 free throws in the final minute to secure the victory.
 
Along with Weeber and Hughes, Carson Parker (11) and Jimmy Roth (10) scored in double figures for Upper Iowa. Parker and Hughes added a team-high seven rebounds.
 
UIU will head to Bemidji, Minn., for a game against the Beavers of Bemidji State tomorrow night. The game will follow the women's game and will tip at approximately 6 p.m.