The Peacock men's basketball team fell on the road on the final day of the Hillyard Tip-Off Classic in St. Joseph, Mo. to the host Griffons of Missouri Western State University on Sunday afternoon. Upper Iowa trailed the entire game from start to finish, and were outshot 48% to 38% in the process to fall 77-65. With the loss, UIU drops to 3-2 on the young season, while MWSU improves to 1-1.

Upper Iowa attempted 55 shots from the floor, while Missouri Western took 56 shots on the day, but the Griffons converted 27 of their shots, while UIU made just 19. Both teams committed 14 turnovers for the game, with MWSU holding a 19-14 lead in points off turnovers. The shooting percentage was the main difference in the game, as the Griffons controlled it from start to finish.

Carson Parker put together yet another double-digit scoring game, after leading the team with 17 points. The senior has now scored in double figures in every game so far this season. Kam Rowan tallied 13 points, while Munachiso Okonkwo put together a 10-point effort off the bench. Okonkwo has now scored at least 10 in two of the last three games, and the Owerri, Nigeria product brought down 10 rebounds for his second career double-double.

Missouri Western took a 41-33 lead into the locker room at halftime, after shooting 48% from the floor. Despite the Peacocks going 11-15 from the line, MWSU continued to hit shots themselves to pull away. In the second half, the Griffons shot nearly identically from the field and held on with a 36-32 second half to earn the 12-point win. UIU did shoot 23-30 from the foul line, but Missouri Western hit 10-22 from behind the arc to counter.

UIU will have a couple days off before heading to Quincy, Ill. to take on the Hawks of Quincy University on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The team will then head to Maryville, Mo. for the Northwest Missouri State Tournament as they take on Truman State and Metro State on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17-18.