Upper Iowa used positive margins in rebounding (+11) and points off turnovers (+8) to secure a Northern Sun Conference win at home. The Peacocks defeated Concordia University, St. Paul 86-73 on Saturday to improve to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference, while the Golden Bears fell to 1-8 overall and 0-3 in NSIC games.
 
A trio of Peacocks scored in double figures led by Jareese Williams, who netted 19 points on 8-16 shooting and pulled down five rebounds. Joe Smoldt added 18 points, four assists and four steals while knocking down 8-15 shots. Lucas Duax chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and five assists and converted 6-8 from the field. Dylan Jones and Nick Reid led the Peacock rebounding efforts with 12 and eight, respectively.
 
Elijah Ormiston hit a game-high 28 points for the Golden Bears thanks to 13-19 shooting; he also grabbed nine rebounds to lead CSP. Jacob Everson added 15 points and added four assists.
 
Concordia hit the game's first shot, but Upper Iowa went on a 22-4 run over the next nine minutes to set the tone. The run featured scores by seven different Upper Iowa players and gave the Peacocks a 22-6 lead midway through the first half.
 
The Golden Bears battled back with a 23-12 stretch to cut their deficit to five at 34-29 with three and a half minutes to play. Upper Iowa didn't let the momentum stay with the visitors for long though.
 
Upper Iowa outscored their guests 13-6 to close the half. Cade Moritz dunked home a nifty assist from Jake Hilmer before Williams hit a deep three to put the Peacocks ahead 39-29. Williams put the home team ahead, 47-35, with a fadeaway three-pointer in the corner just before the halftime buzzer. 

The Peacocks came out of the break on fire and pushed their advantage to 20 points, 58-38. The 11-3 run was fueled by scores from four players including a pair of jumpers by Smoldt.
 
CSP answered with a 13-2 run of their own to slim the margin to nine points, 60-51. UIU shot just 1-4 during the stretch and turned the ball over two times.
 
UIU found their stride again and pushed the lead back to 15 only to have the visitors rally again and pull within eight, 70-62, with seven and a half minutes to play.
 
Upper Iowa put the game away with an 11-0 run over the next three and a half minutes setting the score at 81-62 with 4:02 showing on the clock. Smoldt and Max Duax opened the run with a layup and a three-pointer, respectively, before Lucas Duax took over scoring three straight layups including two off turnovers.
 
Just like Thursday night at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Upper Iowa only missed one free throw in the game. The only difference was that UIU took 30 free throws on Thursday night in Mankato and only one free throw total on Saturday.
 
Upper Iowa will be on the road next Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10-11. The Peacocks will take on the University of Sioux Falls on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.