Upper Iowa's men's basketball team improved to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in the Northern Sun Conference with an 86-79 win at the University of Sioux Falls on Friday night. The Peacocks shot 45.6% from the floor despite knocking down only five three-pointers in the game. UIU added 29 points at the charity stripe and pulled off the big win on the road.
 
Four Peacocks scored in double figures led by Joe Smoldt and Jareese Williams, who scored 25 and 24 points, respectively. The pair of senior guards also added nine rebounds apiece. Jake Hilmer scored 17 and handed out four assists, while Cade Moritz started and posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
 

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NOTEWORTHY: Smoldt converted two three-pointers in the game giving the Reinbeck, Iowa product 300 made trifectas in his storied career. Both of UIU's record-breaking free throw streaks came to an end in the game. Hilmer and Williams were riding 33 and 28-straight made free throw streaks, the previous record of 19 was held by UIU Hall of Famer Greg Von Arx. Hilmer's streak ended at 39, while Williams' streak came to a close at 35. Hilmer converted 6-8 on the night, while Williams made 14-15.

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Matt Cartwright scored a game-high 31 points, but Upper Iowa forced the Cougar leader into needing 30 shots to score his big point total. Chase Grinde added 15 points, while Wesley Oba pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds for USF.
 
After the teams traded blows for the first 12 minutes of the first half the score was tied 20-20. Each team had brief moments with the lead before giving way and exchanging the lead. Upper Iowa made their first substantial run over the final eight minutes of the opening frame outscoring their hosts 16-6 to take a 36-26 lead into the locker room at halftime. The UIU run was fueled by 10 points from Smoldt. A three-pointer from Smoldt with just over a minute to play gave the Peacocks their biggest advantage (12) of the first twenty minutes.
 
The Cougars climbed right back into the game in just a little more than a minute of the second half thanks to a 7-2 run. Upper Iowa restored their lead to ten points, 43-33, after a Hilmer three-pointer and Moritz dunk. The home team outscored their guests 17-7 over a six-minute stretch to tie the game at 50-50 at the midway point of the second half. Cartwright led the Cougar run with 10 points, and USF held UIU to just 2-10 shooting during that span.
 
With the score still knotted at 54-54, the Peacocks went on the game-changing 12-3 run to get ahead 66-57 with under five minutes to play. The run started with Williams being fouled on a three-point try; the senior guard knocked down all three shots. A pair of Moritz layups surrounded a jumper from Smoldt, and after a Cartwright three, Smoldt capped off the run with a jumper and one more free throw.
 
With two minutes to play, the lead had grown to 11, 74-63. In total, UIU scored their final 14 points at the free throw line setting the final margin at seven, 86-79.
 
Upper Iowa will head back east to Marshall, Minn. for another Northern Sun Conference South Division game on Saturday. The Peacocks will take on the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University at 3:30 p.m.