THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK MEN'S BASKETBALL…
The Peacocks will travel east over the holiday to Rensselaer, Ind. to do battle in the St. Joseph's College Thanksgiving Classic Sponsored by McDonald's. Upper Iowa will take on the Lakers of Grand Valley State on Friday at 6 p.m. eastern time (5 PM CT). If the Peacocks defeat GVSU, UIU will move on to the Championship Game against the winner of Salem International and St. Joseph's. If Upper Iowa loses, they will face the loser of SIU and SJC in the Consolation Game. Both the title game and consolation game will be played Saturday, with times to be determined. All games will be available via live stats, but only St. Joseph's College games will have live video available.

PEACOCK STORYLINES...

TOUGH WEEK: UIU dropped a pair of games to GLVC opponents last week, including a home-opening loss to Quincy University, 78-68. The Peacocks traveled south to Kirksville, Mo. last Saturday, and dropped an 87-76 decision to Truman State. Upper Iowa combined to shoot 8-35 from behind the arc last week, including a 1-9 performance in each half against QU, and a 2-11 second half against TSU.

FEASTING ON POINTS: Senior Jimmy Roth is feasting on opposing defenses so far in 2016. The Marion, Iowa product is off to a great start in his final season as a Peacock. Roth ranks ninth in the Northern Sun Conference averaging 18.0 points per game, while his 25 field goals made are 16th best in the league. The senior has recorded three consecutive double-digit scoring games, and has scored 20 or more in three of his last five games, dating back to the 2015-16 season.

STUFFING OPPONENTS AT THE RIM: Senior Jordan Hay and freshman Munachiso Okonkwo are denying opponents at the rim so far this season at a consistent pace. Hay leads the Northern Sun Conference with 7 blocks on the season, a 1.75 clip per game. Okonkwo's four blocks on the young season ranks ninth in the league.

THE SERIES…

GRAND VALLEY STATE: Upper Iowa is matching up with the Lakers for the first time in a decade. The Peacocks are 0-2 all-time against GVSU, with both games coming in the 2006 calendar year. UIU dropped a 75-43 decision in Fayette on Jan. 16, 2006. In November of the following season, the Lakers topped the Peacocks 74-40 in Allendale, Mich.

SALEM INTERNATIONAL: UIU has never played the Tigers, but could match up with SIU for the first time on Saturday, depending the outcomes of Friday's games.

ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE: The Peacocks are 0-2 all-time against the Pumas, and would have the chance to square off with SJC for the first time since 2005. UIU dropped a 92-76 game in Rensselaer, Ind. on Nov. 17, 2005. Upper Iowa matched up with SJC the season prior on Dec. 18, 2004 in Fayette, and lost 72-59.

ABOUT FRIDAY'S OPPONENT…

GRAND VALLEY STATE: The Lakers (3-2) are riding a three-game winning streak, and have defeated their last three opponents by 125 combined points. GVSU is led by a trio of players averaging double-digit points per game. Luke Ryskamp (12.4 PPG), Danzel Wright (12.0 PPG), and Trevin Alexander (11.6 PPG) pace the Tigers through the first five games.

ABOUT SATURDAY'S POTENTIAL OPPONENTS…

SALEM INTERNATIONAL: The Tigers are 0-2 on the season, and will have a game on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at West Virginia Wesleyan University before heading to Rensselaer, Ind. Jarius Farrow leads the way in scoring with 19.7 points per game, while Saquan Epps is the leading rebounder with 6.0 boards per game.

ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE: The Pumas (3-1) are coming off a decisive 113-82 home-opening win over Lincoln Christian University on Monday evening. SJC is led by Eric Gillespie (18.0 PPG), C.J. Hardaway (15.3 PPG), and Nic Williams (10.0 PPG).