The Peacock men's basketball team struggled from the free throw line in their 88-83 loss to the Minnesota State Mavericks on Saturday night in Dorman Gym. Upper Iowa (14-15, 10-10 NSIC) finished 12-of-26 (46.2%) from the charity stripe, while the Mavericks (18-8, 13-7 NSIC) were 26-of-32 (81.3%) on freebies.
 
Both teams shot the ball well from the field. The Peacocks were 33-of-64 (51.6%), while Minnesota State shot just below 50 percent at 29-of-59, but the free throws were the big difference in the game.
 
The game started pretty evenly as the Peacocks led 9-8 after four minutes of play. MSU responded with a 15-8 run over the next four minutes and would go on to lead by as many as 14 in the first half. The Peacocks battled back to cut the deficit to six, 39-33, with two minutes remaining in the half, but Minnesota State finished the opening period with momentum and UIU trailed by 10 at the break, 43-33.
 
After three minutes of back-and-forth basketball to start the second half, UIU went on a 15-4 run that started with a fast break layup by Carson Parker and ended with a Josh Weeber jumper that got the Peacocks within two, 54-52.
 
MSU stretched the lead back to double digits, reaching as high as 13. Upper Iowa ramped up the pressure in the final four minutes and went on a 14-5 run late to cut the Mavericks lead to three, 84-81, with 59 seconds left. The Peacocks forced a turnover on the next Minnesota State possession, but missed a shot to cut the deficit to one. MSU knocked down all four free throws in the final 23 seconds to close out the game.
 
Prior to the game, Upper Iowa honored its four seniors in student assistant Gabe Summerhayes, guards Jernell Hughes ad Turner Wentzien, along with center Jarrod Gamble. The four combined for more than 750 points in their careers and combined for 67 wins.
 
Hughes finished the game as one of four Peacocks in double figures with 18 points. Parker led UIU with 19 points, while Jimmy Roth had 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Gamble finished with four points and three blocked shots.
 
The Peacocks will wrap up the regular season with a pair of games on the road next weekend, starting with a meeting with #3 Augustana on Friday, Feb. 19, at 8 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D.