THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK MEN'S BASKETBALL…
The Peacocks (10-4, 7-1 NSIC) will take their three-game winning streak on the road this weekend as they square off with a pair of NSIC south opponents. Upper Iowa will head west to take on the Sioux Falls Cougars on Friday, Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D. before squaring off with the 12-1 Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Marshall, Minn. UIU will face two of the hottest teams in the league. Sioux Falls has won four of its last five games, while SMSU has rolled off six straight wins. Saturday's matchup with the Mustangs will feature the two top records in the NSIC, and the only blemish on SMSU record came at the hands of Upper Iowa back on Dec. 2 in Fayette.
| GAME FIFTEEN |
GAME SIXTEEN |
| AT SIOUX FALLS |
AT #19 SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE |
| STEWART CENTER |
R/A FACILITY |
| SIOUX FALLS, S.D. |
MARSHALL, MINN. |
| FRIDAY, JAN. 6 || 8 PM |
SATURDAY, JAN. 7 || 7 PM |
PEACOCK STORYLINES...
10 WINS: Upper Iowa has recorded ten wins before the end of the calendar year for the first time as a member of NCAA Division II. The Peacocks have won 9 of their last 10 games and are 7-1 to start NSIC play for the first time in program history as well.
DEFENSE LEADS TO WEEKEND SWEEP: Upper Iowa swept their first cross-division weekend of the season, using defense to pick up home wins over Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. The Peacocks used their two best defensive performances of the season, holding the Beavers to a season-low 61 points, and holding UMC to 68 points. UIU held BSU to a season-low 24 first-half points, and 37% shooting from the field, while forcing 24 total turnovers.
HAY'S BIG WEEKEND: Redshirt senior
Jordan Hay averaged 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two wins over the weekend, including a 20-point, 8-rebound, and 4-block effort against the Golden Eagles. Saturday night's 20-point game was the second such of Hay's career, and the second of the season.
FINISHING CLOSE GAMES: The Peacocks are 4-0 in games decided by 5 points or less this season. Of the four wins, two came against this weekend's opponents. Upper Iowa pulled out a pair of two-point wins over USF and SMSU in the first conference weekend of the year. UIU also topped Grand Valley State 76-72 and Minnesota State, Mankato 82-77 earlier this season.
THE SERIES…
vs. USF COUGARS: The Peacocks are 9-3 against the Cougars. In the brief NSIC series between the two teams (since 2012), UIU holds the upper hand, 6-3, and defeated USF 78-76 back on Dec. 3 in Fayette.
vs. SMSU MUSTANGS: The Mustangs own the all-time series 16-7, but the Peacocks have won four of the last five. UIU handed SMSU its only loss of the season, 77-75, in Fayette on Dec. 2.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS…
SIOUX FALLS: The Cougars (8-4, 4-4 NSIC) have won four of their last five games after a weekend road sweep of Wayne State (64-58) and Augustana (69-62). Zach Wessels averaged 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in the two wins. Wessels scored 20 points for the first time in his career in the win against Augustana, and also had a career-best nine rebounds in the game. USF ranks second in the NSIC in rebounds as a squad at 39.4 per game, and has won the rebound battle in 13-of-16 games, including six games with the margin of 11 or better. For the year, USF has had 54 double digit scoring games with Drew Guebert leading way with 13 and Mack Johnson, 11. Guebert is leading USF in scoring with his 16.6 points per game, ranking 10th in the NSIC.
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE: The Mustangs (12-1, 7-1 NSIC) are off to their best start in team history after 13 games. SMSU's win at Augustana on Friday snapped AU's 38-game home winning streak. Mitch Weg became the 21st player in team history to reach 1,000 career points. Sophomore Ryan Bruggeman was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week after averaging 26 points on 57 percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals in road victories over Augie (78-76) and Wayne State (85-73).
