THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK HOOPS… The men's basketball team at Upper Iowa will open play in the Northern Sun Conference on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. against Winona State University in the team's first home game of the 2021-22 season. The Peacocks will then host No. 6 Truman State University on Saturday at 2 p.m. All three teams have come out of the corner swinging this season with a combined 11-0 record through the first two weekends of action.

LIVE COVERAGE OPTIONS… Live stats and a webcast for both games will be available through the links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live. Both contests will also stream live on the NSIC Network app through Roku and Fire devices, as well as Apple and Android TV. Search for "NSIC Network" to find the app on your relevant device. Both men's games will also air on KCRG stations across the eastern half of Iowa. Tuesday's game will be aired as a delayed broadcast beginning at 10:30 p.m. on KCRG-TV 9.2. Saturday's matchup will be aired live on Eastern Iowa's CW 9.3.

DIGITAL GAMEDAY PROGRAM… Fans can access the interactive and digital gameday program for both home contests at any time at UIUPeacocks.com/Programs. The digital programs are available to fans both at our games and those at home watching the action. QR Codes will also be located around the facility to scan with your cell phone's camera that will link you directly to that game's specific digital gameday program.
 
PUTTING THE PEACOCKS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE... Upper Iowa's offense is averaging 82.8 points per game, which is normal for the Peacocks, but their defense has dropped their points allowed per game to 71.8 from 86.1 a season ago. UIU is knocking down 46.6% of their shots including 41.8% of their three-point attempts. Upper Iowa is averaging 10.3 trifectas per game, while holding opponents to 5.8 makes from behind the three-point line each contest. UIU is taking advantage of their trips to the free throw line as well hitting 87.9% (58-66) of their shots. The high percentage ranks third in the nation and leads the Northern Sun Conference. Jareese Williams (21-21) and Jake HIlmer (11-11) are among 27 players in NCAA Division II to remain perfect at the free throw line.
 
PEACOCK LEADERS... Williams leads the Peacocks' high-powered offense with 20 points a game, while Joe Smoldt is netting 15.5 and Hilmer adds 14 points per contest. Connor Duax has provided a big lift off the bench with 9.8 points and four rebounds per game. Upper Iowa has posted a +4.5-rebounding margin through the first four games. Williams is averaging a team-high 6.3 boards, while Dylan Jones, Nick Reid and Cade Moritz are grabbing 5.8, 5.3 and 4.5 rebounds, respectively. Hilmer has directed the offense with an average of five assists per game, and Max Duax has been a pest of defense registering 2.3 steals per game.
 
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS... Winona State is 3-0 this season behind wins over Pittsburg State University, 79-68, and Henderson State University, 79-62, at the Central Region Challenge. WSU added a non-conference 84-56 win against Viterbo University to grab their third win. The Warriors are averaging 80.7 points a game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 38.7% from three. Alec Rosner has stood out for Winona State with a 17 points per game average, and he has added 4.3 rebounds per game. Connor Drew is averaging 9.3 points and six rebounds, while Drew Adams is recording 9.3 points and five rebounds a game. Devin Whitelow returns to run the point for the Warriors and averages 8.7 points and four assists per game.
 
SCOUTING THE NO. 6 BULLDOGS... Truman State comes into the week with a 4-0 record and will measure up against No. 1 Northwest Missouri State University on the road on Tuesday before heading to Fayette. The Bulldogs opened with two wins over Cedarville University, 87-80, and the University of Findlay, 90-61, in the GLVC/G-MAC Challenge. Truman then defeated Pitt State, 71-62, and Missouri Southern State University, 95-89, last weekend in Joplin, Mo. as part of the Chris Tucker Memorial Classic. As a team, the Bulldogs are averaging 85.8 points a game while shooting 53.3% from the floor and 47.8% from three. Cade McKnight leads TSU with 21.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while Masen Miller has netted 14.8 points and handed out nearly four assists a game.
 
SATURDAY'S PEACOCK CONNECTION... Truman State's head coach Jeff Horner played basketball for the University of Iowa. The 2006 Big Ten Tournament's Most Outstanding Player was a sophomore when Upper Iowa played their first exhibition game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena against the Hawks. Jeff's father, Bob Horner, is an alum of Upper Iowa University, 1976, and is a member of the Peacock Athletics Department Hall of Fame. The elder Horner coached the Mason City Hawks boys' basketball team to Iowa State Championships in 1996 and 1997. UIU's leading scorer, Jareese Williams came to Upper Iowa after earning All-CIML Second Team and All-Division First Team honors as a member of the Mason City Hawks basketball team.