The Peacock men's basketball team put together their best offensive performance of the season on Friday night in game one of the Northwest Missouri State Tournament in Maryville, Mo. Upper Iowa scored over 100 points for the first time since February 2016 in their 110-92 victory over the Bulldogs of Truman State University. UIU moves to 5-2 on the season with the win, and earned their first win over Truman in three years. The 110 points is the second-most points scored in UIU's NCAA Division II era, and the most against a D-II opponent. Upper Iowa scored 116 points against Iowa Wesleyan in November 2014.
The highlight of the game came from senior Carson Parker, who recorded the first triple-double for the Peacocks in the Brooks McKowen era, which began in 2013. Parker scored 23 points, hauled in 12 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists. The New Hartford, Iowa native made frequent trips to the foul line, connecting on 13-14 for the game. Dennis Austin III matched a game-high with 23 points, and recorded his third 20-point game of the season.
Munachiso Okonkwo scored a career-high 20 points on Friday on an extremely efficient 8-9 shooting. Freshman Joe Smoldt was also outstanding off the bench, scoring 16 points on 6-13 from the field. Quentin Blaue added 13 points, while Mitch Eighme added 7 points as well.
The scoring came easily for Upper Iowa, as they stormed out to a halftime lead of 53-33. UIU shot 58% in the half, and held their opponent to 12-32 including just 2-14 from behind the arc.
Everyone contributed for Upper Iowa on Friday, and a big difference in the game came from the bench. UIU held a 42-17 lead in bench points, scoring 21 in each half. 48 of the Peacock points came in the paint as well, with great post play from Eighme and Okonkwo, as well as guard penetration to the bucket.
The Peacocks now have a two-game winning streak again after dropping a pair of games at the Hillyard Tip-Off Classic. UIU was actually outscored 59-57 in the second half, but their big lead at halftime was more than enough. The 57 second-half points were the most this season for the team. The Peacocks shot 58% in the second half as well, in one of their more dominant offensive showings in a long time.
The team will turn around and get back on the court in the Bearcat Arena as they wrap up the tournament against the Roadrunners of Metro State University on Saturday, Nov. 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
