The Peacocks beat the buzzer yet again on Friday night against the reigning National Champion Augustana Vikings inside Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette. Carson Parker pulled off more late-game magic with his second buzzer-beater of the season. Parker, who hit a three-pointer at the horn in overtime to beat #19 Southwest Minnesota State two weeks ago, connected on a three-pointer from the right wing with 0.5 seconds to give Upper Iowa its 13th win of the season (13-6) and tenth win in the NSIC (10-3). With the loss, Augie drops to 13-6 overall and 8-5 in league play.
 
The game was back and forth the entire night, and with 1:28 remaining, Upper Iowa held an 87-85 lead and possession of the ball. The Peacocks used the shot clock, and Parker hit a clutch layup on the left side to put UIU up 89-85 with 1:00 to go. But the Vikings game right back on the other end. Mike Busack converted in the paint with 46 seconds left to get the visitors back within two, 89-87.
 
After a Viking foul on UIU's Jordan Hay, the redshirt-senior forward hit one of two free throw attempts to give the home team a three-point, one-possession lead, 90-87. The Vikings weren't done. Adam Beyer connected on a layup to get the visitors within one, 90-89. After Peacock senior Jace Hanna hit one of his two attempts from the free throw line to give Upper Iowa a 91-89 lead, Augie turned to their All-NSIC point guard. With five seconds left, Jordan Spencer, who finished with a career-high 34 points, connected on a contested layup to tie the game. That set up the Parker heroics, and the Peacocks led 94-91 with 0.5 seconds to go.
 
Another late foul and a Hay free throw put the icing on the cake for the home team, and Upper Iowa remains at the top of the NSIC South division with the hard-fought win. Parker finished with 18 points to lead all Peacocks, and converted on 10-17 shooting. Six total players finished in double-figures for the night, including Kam Rowan, who contributed with 15 points off the bench. Dennis Austin III totaled 14 points on 6-10 shooting, while Jimmy Roth and Jordan Hay each added 13. Senior Jace Hanna, who has battled injuries this season, totaled a season-high 11 points off the bench as well.
 
Spencer led the visitors with his career night on 13-19 shooting, including 7-12 from behind the arc. Steven Schaefer added 15 points off the bench, while Mike Busack totaled 14 in his starter role. Augustana converted on 49.3% (33-67) from the field including 15-30 (50%) from distance.
 
The Peacocks shot 50% from the field (33-66), but it was not the long ball that sunk the Vikings. UIU converted 8-20 from behind the arc, and more importantly knocked down 21-26 (80.8%) from the charity stripe en route to the win. Upper Iowa hit their first 14 free throw attempts on Friday night.
 
The Peacock bench was phenomenal once again. UIU is one of only two teams in the Northern Sun Conference (Southwest Minnesota State) with six different players averaging in double figures in points. Upper Iowa outscored Augustana 37-18 in bench points for the game, led by Rowan and Hanna. The inside game favored the home team as well, with UIU holding a 46-22 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Augustana held a 46-43 lead at halftime behind a dominant Jordan Spencer, who scored 17 points in the first 20 minutes. Both teams held a six-point lead at one point in a first half that featured six ties. Spencer scored the final six points of the half on a pair of trifectas to put the Vikings up by three at the intermission, and the second half would not disappoint.
 
Upper Iowa opened the second half on a 9-0 run to lead 52-46, tying its largest lead of the game. However, the visitors put together another run of their own. Augustana used  16-4 run over a four-minute span to lead by six themselves, 62-56, with 12:32 remaining in the game. After a Hay layup at the 8:50 layup put the Peacocks back up six points, Augie answered right back with points by Zach Huisken and Steven Schaefer. The Vikings tied the game at 73 with seven minutes remaining, and the outstanding finish would ensue. Friday night's game featured 13 lead changes and 9 ties in a classic NSIC finish.
 
The Peacocks will return to the court tomorrow night at 6 p.m. when they battle the Wayne State Wildcats in Dorman Gymnasium. Saturday's night game will by Hawaiian Night for fans, and the game will be broadcast online on UIU TV and in eastern Iowa on KCRG TV 9.2.