THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK MEN'S BASKETBALL…
Upper Iowa (7-6, 1-4 NSIC) will look for revenge in their rematch with the Warriors of Winona State University on the road in Winona, Minn. on Saturday, Dec. 16. The two teams met three weeks earlier in Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette, with the Warriors claiming a 90-80 win on the road. UIU will look for a win in McGown Gymnasium, with tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m.
 

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PEACOCK STORYLINES...

WEEKEND SPLIT: The Peacocks split their first home conference weekend of the season on Dec. 8-9 against Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State. Upper Iowa closed out the Golden Bears Friday night, 85-75, and never trailed in the game to notch their first NSIC win of the year. On Saturday, the Mavericks got the best of UIU with a 19-6 in a six-minute span to stretch the lead out. Freshman Joe Smoldt's shot then fell just short at the buzzer, and MSU took the game, 86-83.
 
FIRST GO AROUND WITH THE WARRIORS: In the NSIC opener back on Nov. 25 in Fayette, Winona State defeated Upper Iowa 90-80 behind 58 second-half points. The visitors shot 60% from the floor in the final 20 minutes, after UIU claimed a 35-32 halftime lead. Redshirt junior Kam Rowan had a career-night, scoring 19 points on 7-9 shooting, including 3-3 from behind the arc. All together, UIU had five players score in double figures, with Dennis Austin III scoring 15 points, and Carson Parker scoring 13. Joe Smoldt added 10 off the bench, while Quentin Blaue tallied 10 points as well.
 
CRASH THE BOARDS: The Peacocks rank fifth in the Northern Sun in defensive rebounds per game this season with 26.5 per contest. Despite it being a category that might go unnoticed, rebounding has actually been a key for Upper Iowa this season. When UIU outrebounds its opponent, the team is a perfect 5-0 this season. The team is 2-6 when they get outrebounded or the rebounds are equal.
 
INDIVIDUAL RANKS: Parker is ranked in the top 10 in the conference and the country in multiple categories this season, including scoring and assists. The point guard leads the NSIC and ranks fourth in all of college basketball with 81 total assists on the season. Parker's 6.2 assists per game ranks third in the league and 21st nationally, and his 2.38 assist/turnover ratio ranks ninth in the NSIC as well. His 17.8 points per game ranks ninth best in the conference, and his lone triple-double this season is tied with six others for the only ones in the country. Munachiso Okonkwo's four double-doubles this season lead the NSIC, while his 98 rebounds rank 2nd in the league and 29th nationally. Mu also is near the top in blocks (23, 2nd NSIC/13th NCAA), and rebounds per game (7.5, 6th NSIC). Smoldt leads the league in three-pointer field goals made (36), and ranks 14th nationally. His 43.4% shooting percentage from behind the arc ranks third in the NSIC as well.
 

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THE SERIES…

Upper Iowa trails the all-time series 22-6 after losing in Fayette earlier this season. The teams split each of the last two seasons, including each road team winning last year. In 2016-17, the two squads met twice in a 48-hour time span. On Dec. 17, Winona State won in Fayette 85-67, but UIU answered with a win in Winona, Minn. on Dec. 19, 95-82.
 

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SCOUTING THE WARRIORS…
 
The Warriors are coming off their most complete statistical game of the year in Tuesday's non-conference win over Waldorf. WSU knocked down a season-best 15 three-pointers while shooting 56% from downtown. Overall, the Warriors 53% effort from the field was their second highest of the year. Winona's 17 offensive boards were a season high, and 40 total rebounds were second-most this year. The Warriors also combined to dish out a season-best 21 assists.