Upper Iowa men's basketball snapped a three-game skid and won at home for the first time since Nov. 28 with an 89-81 win over the Northern State Wolves on Sunday evening in Dorman Gym.
 
The Peacocks (7-10, 3-5 NSIC) had five players in double figures, led by junior Jimmy Roth, who poured in a career-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting. The Wolves (7-7, 3-5 NSIC) were led by Darin Peterka with 18 points.
 
Northern State came out hot and knocked down six of their first eight shots to take an early 14-7 lead. UIU responded when Roth and senior Jernell Hughes spearheaded an Upper Iowa rally with four points each as the Peacocks took the lead, 17-16, with a 10-2 run. Upper Iowa held the lead for the remainder of the first half and went to the locker room up 33-29.
 
After Northern State cut the lead to two, 33-31, to start the second half, UIU hit 4-of-5 from three point range to extend the lead to 12. Josh Weeber knocked down three trifectas in four possessions to spark a 9-2 run for the home team.
 
The Peacocks lead hit a game-high 20 points when they went on an 8-0 run in less than two minutes midway through the second half.  Roth had five points during the stretch along with another Weeber three.
 
NSU cut the Peacock lead down to single digits on several occasions in the final three minutes, but Upper Iowa was able to hit 14-of-16 free throws to hold off the Wolves.  
 
Upper Iowa will be on the road next Friday and Saturday, Jan. 8-9. The Peacocks will take on the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minn. on Friday and then challenge the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Saturday.