THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK MEN'S BASKETBALL…
Upper Iowa (13-12, 6-10 NSIC) will return home for the first time in three weeks when they match up with the NSIC North division for the final time this season. The Peacocks will host the No. 14 Wolves of Northern State University on Friday, Feb. 2 before hosting the Dragons of Minnesota State University Moorhead on Saturday, Feb. 3. Friday's game tips off at 8 p.m. for Jersey Night, and can be viewed in eastern Iowa on KCRG TV 9.3, while Saturday's contested gets underway at 6 p.m. for Throwback Saturday, and will be shown on 9.2.
 

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PEACOCK STORYLINES...

GET YOUR BROOMS OUT: Last weekend in Bismarck and Minot, N.D., the Peacocks picked up their first NSIC sweep of the season. Upper Iowa overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to beat the UMary Marauders in overtime, 92-86, and continued their momentum the next night. UIU scored a remarkable 57 points in the second half to upset the Minot State Beavers, who were receiving votes in the top 25 nationally. The sweep was the first for UIU since Feb. 10-11, 2017.

APPROACHING THE NAMESAKE: With the win over Minot State, Head Coach Brooks McKowen has now tallied 84 victories since becoming the Upper Iowa head man prior to the 2013 season. McKowen is three wins away from tying legendary Peacock and Dorman Gymnasium namesake, John "Doc" Dorman. Dorman, UIU's first men's basketball coach, won 87 games from 1915-36.

DIVISION II HISTORY: Since Upper Iowa joined NCAA Division II in 2003, few Peacocks have had more success than Carson Parker. The senior registered his ninth 20-point game of the season last Friday, and now stands alone for such games in a single season in UIU's D-II history. Parker has now scored in double figures 21 times this season, which ranks second behind former teammate Jimmy Roth, who did it 25 times two seasons ago. Parker has now 57 double-digit scoring games in his career, fourth-best amongst D-II players, and his 14 20-point games trail only Matt Lesan, who did it 18 times from 2007-11.

90'S KIDS: On throwback weekend, Upper Iowa will need to shoot the ball well to keep their winning streak alive. When the team scores 90 points this season, UIU is a perfect 5-0, including both wins last weekend. UIU has its first three-game winning streak since the first three games of the year in California, and will need to keep scoring to continue that trend.
 

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THE SERIES…

vs. NORTHERN STATE: Northern State controls the series 9-3, however the Peacocks have split the last four with their opponents to the northwest. The Wolves bested UIU, 83-72, last season in Aberdeen, S.D., but the Peacocks got the best of NSU in Fayette two years ago, winning 89-81.

vs. MSU MOORHEAD: The Dragons hold a slight 8-7 edge in the all-time series, but recently it has been all MSU Moorhead. MSUM has bested Upper Iowa six straight times, including a 93-85 win in Moorhead, Minn. last season. The teams have met in the post-season three times, with the Dragons winning all three matchups.
 

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SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS…

vs. #14 NSU WOLVES: Northern State (21-3, 14-2 NSIC) earned a split over the weekend against USF and SMSU, but in polar opposite fashion. NSU tallied 97 points in the win over the Cougars, but struggled to shot just 35% from the floor and 57 points in the loss to the Mustangs. Four players average double figures for the Wolves, led by Ian Smith's 13.0 points per game. DJ Pollard follows with 12. 7 per contest. Logan Doyle leads the team in rebounding with 7.0 per contest.

vs. MSUM DRAGONS: The Dragons (6-16, 4-12 NSIC) split at home last weekend as well, including  last-second defeat at the hands of USF. Junior Travaun Coad recorded his team-best seventh double-double of the season in loss to Sioux Falls; he has six in his last eight games for MSUM. Senior Tanner Kretchman is just three points away from reaching 1,500 for his Dragon career.