The Peacock men's basketball team dropped their first game of the season on Friday down in St. Joseph, Mo. against the No. 1 Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State University. The defending national champions put together a big second half to pull away from UIU, 89-65. In the second half of the game, senior point guard Carson Parker joined the 1,000-point club with a layup with 4:54 to play in the game. Parker becomes just the 27th member of the illustrious club in UIU history.

Parker needed just 67 points coming into the season to reach 1,000 points, and after 54-point three-day stretch in California to open the season, the senior needed just 13 points as the team headed down to Missouri. After a 10-point first half, Parker then scored back-to-back buckets at the five-minute mark to break the barrier. This season marks the third straight to have a Peacock reach 1,000 career points; Josh Weeber and Jimmy Roth did it two years ago, while Luke Lenhart and Jordan Hay reached it last season.

As for the game itself, the difference came from behind the arc. Northwest Missouri State connected on 14 triples, shooting 56% (14-25) from distance. Upper Iowa converted 45% (24-53) from the field, but only hit 6-19 from beyond the arc. UIU was also outrebounded 38-23 in the game, and allowed 10 offensive rebounds to the Bearcats.

The first half was tightly contested most of the way. After trailing 7-0 right away, the Peacocks did not trail by than nine points until after the five-minute mark of the half. Upper Iowa never gained the lead, but got within two points four different times. However, at the end of the half, the momentum started to swing completely to Northwest Missouri State's side. Leading 30-28 with 5:15 to play, NMSU closed the half on an 11-2 run to lead by 10 at the break (41-31). The momentum carried into the second half as well.

The Bearcats outscored the Peacocks 48-34 in the final 20 minutes, and shot 55% (16-29) from the floor including 9-16 (53%) from distance. The Peacocks were consistent from inside the three-point line, but were unable to hit from the outside to keep up with Northwest Missouri State.

Individually, redshirt-junior Dennis Austin III led the way for the Peacocks with 22 points on 9-13 shooting. Friday marks the second time already this season Austin has hit the 20-point plateau, joining his 25-point effort in the season-opener. Parker finished with 15 points on 6-15 from the field, and added four assists and three rebounds as well. Munachiso Okonkwo led the team with six boards, and added five points offensively. Joe Smoldt and Jareese Williams each tallied six points apiece as well.

Upper Iowa will take Saturday off, and then will return to the floor in St. Joseph to take on the host Griffons of Missouri Western State University on Sunday, Nov. 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. to close out the Hillyard Tip-Off Classic.