The Peacock men's basketball team got their season off to a great start on Friday afternoon in Kansas City. Upper Iowa defeated Missouri Southern State University 96-83 at the Central Region Challenge hosted by Pittsburg State University. UIU raced out to an early lead over the first six and a half minutes and controlled the pace of play throughout. The win was UIU's first in three chances against the Lions over the last few years.
 
A lay up by Connor Duax with 13:52 to play in the first half capped off a 23-6 outburst that began Upper Iowa's season. During the dominating initial run, the Peacocks knocked down nine field goals including four three-pointers out of the hands of three different players. Nick Reid nailed a pair of shots from long-range, while Jareese Williams and Dylan Jones each scored a three-pointer as well. By the time the dust settled, six Peacocks had already scratched the scoring column.
 
The Lions found their footing and cut the gap back to 26-15 thanks to a short 9-3 run, but the Peacocks worked the lead back to 19 points on several occasions over the next five minutes. Upper Iowa kept the pressure up on offense and were rewarded with chanced at the free throw line. Over the opening 20 minutes of the game, the Peacocks converted 17 of their 19 shots at the charity stripe to go along with seven made three-pointers including three by both Williams and Reid. Heading into the locker room at half, Upper Iowa had a 52-36 lead.
 
In the second half, the teams battled back and forth with each offense having their way. After three-straight free throws by MSSU's Stan Scott, Joe Smoldt knocked down a three-pointer to reestablish UIU's 16-point advantage and Reid followed with his fourth trifecta of the day to push the gap back to 19, 73-54, midway through the half.
 
Missouri Southern State was able to climb back within 11 again, 79-68, after outscoring Upper Iowa 14-6, but the Peacocks took advantage of lay up and free throw chances to push their lead back to 17 points. UIU led 96-79 with 1:22 to play as Williams knocked down two more free throws before the Lions scored the final two buckets of the game to set the final score at 96-83.
 
Williams scored a game-high 29 points thanks to three triples and perfect 16-16 shooting at the free throw line; he also snagged five rebounds. As a team, UIU hit 30 of their 32 free throws and converted 12 of their 25 three-pointers. Reid grabbed 6 rebounds and scored 20 on 5-8 shooting including knocking down 4-5 from deep.  Smoldt knocked down four three-pointers and scored 17, while Jake Hilmer added 14 points and five assists. Dylan Jones chipped in eight points and six rebounds, while Cade Moritz came off the bench to score four points and pull in a team-high eight rebounds.
 
MSSU was led by Scott, who posted 20 points and added a game-high nine rebounds. Four other Lions scored in double figures, while the team struggled from deep converting only 5-20 from behind the arc.
 
Upper Iowa will have a day to recover and prep for the host Gorillas of Pitt State. UIU and PSU will jump it up at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in Kansas City at the Municipal Auditorium.