Upper Iowa's men's basketball continued their strong start to the 2021-22 season with an 85-72 win in their home and Northern Sun Conference openers. The Peacocks (5-0) had four scorers in double figures and held their guests to just four three-pointers while knocking down 12 themselves.
 
Five minutes into the game, the Warriors and Peacocks were trading blows as a three-pointer from Jareese Williams landed to tie the game at 11-11. A pair of free throws from Winona State tied the game again at 20-20 with 11:48 showing on the clock. UIU began to take control over the next two minutes thanks to an 11-3 run to push the home team ahead 31-23. The Peacocks hit all five of their attempts from the field with Connor Duax's four points leading the way.
 
As the first half moved toward the five-minute mark, the Warriors scratched their way within six, 35-29 after a Devin Whitelow layup. But another big 10-2 run from Upper Iowa pushed the margin to 14 points, 45-31. Four different Peacocks scored in the run including three-pointers from Jake Hilmer and Max Duax. A final layup by WSU set the halftime score at 45-33.
 
Winona State was first on the scoreboard in the second half, but a 9-1 outburst from the Peacocks improved their advantage to 18, 54-36, just three minutes in. A pair of Williams three-pointers provided the separation for Upper Iowa. A three-pointer by Max Duax gave UIU their biggest lead, 19 points (69-50), of the night with 10:31 to play.
 
The Warriors refused to go away easily though. Winona State launched an 18-5 run that lasted nearly seven minutes as they held Upper Iowa to just two makes in 10 attempts including 1-7 from three. During the rallying run, six different Warriors marked the scoring column led by Connor Drew's six points.
 
In the end, Upper Iowa settled back into control and outscored their guests 11-4 over the final three minutes of the game. Nine of the points came at the free throw line as Hilmer knocked down 8-8 as time wound down.
 
Upper Iowa and Winona State both made 30 baskets on the night, but UIU converted 12 trifectas and 13 free throws, while WSU only knocked down four three-pointers and eight at the charity stripe. The Warriors won the rebounding battle by a slim 32-30 margin.
 
Hilmer led all scorers with 21 and added four assists, while Williams netted 18 points and six rebounds. Max Duax scored 12 points off the bench and grabbed two steals. Dylan Jones scored 10 points and pulled in three rebounds. Joe Smoldt snared six rebounds and added nine points, while Connor Duax scored eight and hauled in a team-high seven boards.
 
The Peacocks will take on No. 2 Truman State University (4-1) on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 27, at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs lost an 86-76 decision at No. 3 Northwest Missouri State University on Tuesday night.