Upper Iowa was defeated by Minnesota State University Moorhead by an 82-66 count in the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Quarterfinals. The game was just the seventh time this season Upper Iowa has scored 66 points or less. With the loss, Upper Iowa falls to a 19-11 record on the season. MSU Moorhead improves to 19-11 overall and will advance to the tournament semifinals on Monday, March 2.

A bucket and a pair of blocks on the opposite end of the floor from Cade Moritz sparked a 5-0 start for Upper Iowa. MSU Moorhead responded with a 13-1 run of their own to go up 13-6 with 15:50 to play in the first frame. The Dragons extended their lead to double-digits when a 9-2 run put MSUM up 33-19 with 3:34 to go in the first half. MSU Moorhead held their advantage heading into halftime as they led 41-24 at the break.

Upper Iowa struggled to score in the first half as the Peacocks went just 8-31 (25.8%) from the floor including 1-7 (14.3%) from beyond the arc while the Dragons connected on 16-30 (53.8%) of their attempts from the field and posted a 2-6 (33.3%) rate from downtown. UIU's 24 first-half points is the second-lowest total that the Peacocks have posted this season. Upper Iowa uncharacteristically tallied over double the amount of MSU Moorhead's first-half turnovers 9-4. Jake Hilmer led the Peacocks with seven points on a 3-5 (60%) rate from the field in the first frame.

After going back-and-forth with Upper Iowa for the majority of the second half, MSU Moorhead went on a 13-4 stretch that gave the Dragons their largest lead of the day (68-47) with 6:38 left on the clock. Upper Iowa immediately battled back with an 8-0 run of their own to make it 68-55 with 5:36 to play. However, that is the closest the Peacocks would come to grasping the Dragons lead as MSU Moorhead ended the game on an 82-66 advantage claiming the victory.

STATS OF THE GAME… 

• The Dragons outshot the Peacocks 31-58 (53.4%) to 21-59 (35.6%) from the field including 6-12 (50%) to 5-19 (26.3%) from deep.

• Upper Iowa outrebounded MSU Moorhead 37-35.

• UIU forced 13 turnovers but committed 18 on the other end of the court.

PEACOCKS OF THE GAME… 

• Hilmer led the Peacocks with 12 points on a 5-8 (62.5%) mark from the floor. Hilmer also tallied four rebounds and three assists on the day.

• Joe Smoldt was close behind with 10 points.

UP NEXT… The Peacocks will return to the court in November for the 2020-21 season.