No. 19 Upper Iowa suffered their first loss of the season on Thursday night at No. 17 Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Peacocks had a shot at the win in regulation and a desperation shot at the end of overtime that hit off the back of the rim, but lost to the Mavericks 98-96 in their first NSIC road game of the season. While MSU improves to 7-0 (2-0 NSIC), UIU falls to 6-1 (1-1 NSIC).
 
The Peacocks trailed 9-6 five and a half minutes into the game. The Peacocks outscored the Mavericks 22-11 over the next six minutes fueled by eight points from Joe Smoldt, six from Jake HIlmer and four points from Lucas Duax. As the first half clock dropped to eight minutes to play, the Peacocks scoring run led to a 28-20 advantage. The gap grew to nine, 32-23, with 6:21 showing on the clock, but the home team used an 8-0 run covering just over a minute to pull back within striking distance. A three-pointer by Quincy Anderson broke a 34-34 tie and gave the Mavericks a 37-34 edge. Upper Iowa had the last word in the half though; the Peacocks scored the final five thanks to a pair of free throws from Hilmer and a triple from Jareese Williams to give UIU a 39-37 lead at the break.
 
UIU opened the second half with a quick 7-2 run to get ahead 46-39 just two minutes in. Minnesota State answered with a 10-2 run to retake the lead 49-48. The teams exchanged buckets and the lead as the second half moved toward its midway point. A 5-0 run by Lucas Duax gave UIU a six-point advantage, 63-57, but Minnesota State clawed back and tied the game at 72-72 on another Anderson three-pointer with under six minutes to play. After a pair of Smoldt free throws tied the game at 80-80, the home team scored a quick four points to get ahead 84-80 with under two minutes to play. Hilmer brought the Peacocks right back into a tie at 84-84 with back-to-back jumpers. After a defensive stop, the Peacocks got the last shot as an elbow jumper from Hilmer went in-and-out and the game moved to overtime.
 
Minnesota State opened the extra period with an 8-2 run that was fueled by four more points from Anderson. The Peacocks answered with an old-fashioned three-point play by Williams and three free throws from Smoldt to pull back within one, 93-92, with just over a minute to play. The teams continued to trade scores as the clock wound down. Trailing 98-96, UIU got one last desperation attempt off, but it missed off the back iron to give the Peacocks their first loss of the season.
 
The Peacock trio of Smoldt, Hilmer and Williams all scored over 20 points in the game. Smoldt led the way with 28 points on 9-18 shooting including 3-8 from deep. HIlmer netted 22 points including shooting 12-12 at the free throw line. Williams scored 21 on 7-17 shooting from the floor and 5-5 at the free throw line. UIU combined to hit 29-30 at the charity stripe.
 
All three Duax brothers (Lucas, Max and Connor) fouled out in the game as Upper Iowa was whistled for 31 fouls. While the Peacocks converted all but one free throw, the Mavericks knocked in 28-43 at the line. Dylan Jones scored six and pulled down nine rebounds, while Nick Reid scored two and grabbed seven boards.
 
The Mavericks were led by Anderson, who scored a game-high 35 points fueled by 14-17 shooting at the free throw line, and Devonte Thedford, who scored 24 points.
 
For the game, the Peacocks three-point attack only converted 5-27 from behind the arc and couldn't out-produce the Mavericks play inside. MSU held a 56-38 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Upper Iowa hosts the Golden Bears of Concordia University, St. Paul at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4. The teams will match up in the first game of a men's/women's doubleheader between UIU and CSP in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium.