THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK MEN'S BASKETBALL…
Upper Iowa (6-3, 0-1 NSIC) heads back out on the road this weekend after their first home game of the year, as they head west for a pivotal NSIC weekend. The Peacocks will meet the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday, Dec. 1 before heading to Sioux Falls, S.D. for a game with the USF Cougars on Saturday, Dec. 2. Both games will tip-off at 6 p.m. Friday's game will be webcast as usual, and can be seen on Midco Sports Network as part of the doubleheader of the week package in South Dakota.
 

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PEACOCK STORYLINES...

LAST SATURDAY... Winona State topped Upper Iowa last Saturday in the NSIC opener in Fayette, 90-80, and used a big second half to do it. The Warriors scored 58 second-half points, and shot 60% from the floor in the final 20 minutes to top UIU.

CLASSIC MATCHUPS... The Peacocks and Mustangs have played some outstanding games over the years, and Carson Parker has been right in the middle of it all. As a freshman, Parker beat the buzzer in Fayette to top SMSU, and did it again in Marshall last season. UIU defeated the then-No. 19 Mustangs, with Parker connecting on a three-pointer from 25 feet at the top of the key with 0.2 seconds remaining in overtime. Back on Dec. 2 in Fayette, UIU trailed SMSU for 38 minutes, but rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit to win a thrilling game 77-75.

BLOCK PARTY... Upper Iowa made history in their lost to Winona State last weekend. UIU recorded 10 blocks as a team in the game, which marks the first time the program has accomplished that feat since Dec. 2002 against Simpson College. It is the first time the Peacocks have hit 10+ as an NCAA Division II program.

LEADING THE PACK... Freshman Joe Smoldt and junior Munachiso Okonkwo are leading the way for Upper Iowa in a couple of major categories. Smoldt has been a consistent force this season, averaging 11.7 points per game, and has scored in double figures in six straight games. The Reinbeck, Iowa native leads the team with 25 three-pointers made on the year, eight higher than the next Peacock. Okonkwo is averaging a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game, has tallied three double-doubles, and has added a team-high 17 blocks as well.
 

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THE SERIES…

vs. SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE: The Mustangs own the all-time series 17-8, but the Peacocks have won five of the last seven. UIU handed SMSU two of its six losses last season, both in thrilling fashion, and by a combined 5 points. The teams also met in the NSIC Tournament Championship Game, with SMSU winning, 71-58.

vs. SIOUX FALLS... The Peacocks are 9-4 against the Cougars. In the brief NSIC series between the two teams (since 2012), UIU holds the upper hand, 6-5, and each team won at home in last seasons matchups.