THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK MEN'S BASKETBALL…
Upper Iowa (9-8, 2-6 NSIC) opens up the New Year at home this weekend as they host a pair of NSIC South games inside Dorman Gymnasium. The Peacocks will match up with the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls on Friday, Jan. 5 before squaring off with the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday, Jan. 6. Friday's game tips off at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast live in eastern Iowa on KCRG 9.3, while Saturday' game gets underway at 6 p.m. and can be seen on KCRG 9.2.
 

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PEACOCK STORYLINES...

A PAIR OF REMATCHES: The Peacocks will look for revenge this weekend after falling to both the Cougars and Mustangs earlier in the season. Upper Iowa lost at USF back on Dec. 2 after surrendering 60 second-half points to fall 90-78. SMSU earned their first home win over UIU in four years on Dec. 1 in Marshall, Minn., 93-86, after holding a big lead in the first half. The Peacocks went 3-1 in the regular season against the two teams last season, and will look for the season split this year.

NEW YEAR'S EVE SPLIT: Upper Iowa went on the road to their second-longest road trip of the season last weekend over the New Year's holiday, and earned a split with Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. UIU topped the Beavers, 84-75, after holding as much as a 19-point lead in the second half, and holding off a late rally to earn its second straight win. The winning streak was snapped in Crookston after a 98-79 loss to the Golden Eagles on Sunday.

RUN AND GUN: The Peacocks have shown the ability to get up and down the floor this season, and have used the three-point shot throughout the year. UIU leads the Northern Sun and ranks 20th nationally in three-point attempts this season with 376, and ranks sixth in three-point field goals made per game with 8.1. The team's 138 three-pointers made rank second in the NSIC and 30th in the nation. Freshman Joe Smoldt leads the league and ranks 21st nationally with 111 three-point attempts, while Quentin Blaue's 90 rank third in the conference.

DISHING IT OUT: Senior Carson Parker has been one of the best in the NSIC and the country when it comes to dishing out assists. The New Hartford, Iowa native leads the Northern Sun and ranks fourth in the nation with 99 assists this season. His 5.8 assists per game is third-best amongst NSIC players, and his 2.15 assist-to-turnover ratio is ninth in the conference as well.
 

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THE SERIES…

vs. SIOUX FALLS... The Peacocks are 9-5 against the Cougars. In the brief NSIC series between the two teams (since 2012), UIU holds the upper hand, 7-5, and each team won at home in the last three matchups dating back to last season.

vs. SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE: The Mustangs own the all-time series 18-8, but the Peacocks have won five of the last eight. Despite losing earlier this season, 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.
 

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ABOUT THE OPPONENTS…

vs. USF COUGARS: Sioux Falls split a pair of games, defeating city-rival Augustana, 70-61 in overtime at the Stewart Center, and fell to Wayne State, 78-66, at home. USF has outrebounded its opponents in 10 of 13 games and leads the NSIC in rebounding at 40.4 per game with a league-high 7.6 rebounding margin. The Cougars rank third in the NSIC in scoring at 83.4 points per game, and have scored more than 80 in nine contests. With the 70-61 OT decision over Augustana, USF now stands 4-0 in overtime games this season.

vs. SMSU MUSTANGS: Southwest Minnesota State had its five-game winning streak snapped against Augustana on Saturday after topping Wayne State Friday. SMSU finished with a 44-26 rebound advantage in the win over WSC, and hit nine three-pointers as well. The winning streak over the Wildcats is up to 19 in Marshall, Minn. Senior Carter Kirk became the 23rd player in team history to reach 1,000 career points, and averaged 20.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game.