Upper Iowa defeated Winona State University 80-65 on Friday night. Jareese Williams led the way recording his second double-double of the season with a game-high 25 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. With the win, Upper Iowa qualifies for the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament, secures a top two finish in the NSIC South Division, and extends their win streak to eight straight. Following the victory, Upper Iowa improves to 10-5 overall, 8-3 in the NSIC while Winona State falls to 6-6 overall, 4-5 in conference play. 

The Warriors held control for nearly the entire first frame. WSU carried a 32-10 advantage early on that began with a 16-3 stretch and ended with 10 unanswered points putting Winona up 34-15 with 4:58 to go. The Peacocks responded with a 15-5 run of their own that cut UIU's deficit down to nine. Upper Iowa went 4-5 (80%) from deep amid the stretch making the score 39-30 with 2:11 to play in the half. The period ended with Winona State ahead 43-35.

The Peacocks allowed double the points they scored in the paint (36-18) in the first half. Williams led UIU with a game-high 16 points in the first frame while Joe Smoldt followed close behind with 11 to go along with a game-high four assists.

The Peacocks jumped out on a 13-2 stretch to start the second half giving Upper Iowa their first lead in over 20 minutes and never looked back. Smoldt and Dylan Jones combined to provide nine of the points scored during the run that put UIU ahead 48-45 with 15:10 left to play. UIU extended its lead to double-digits following a 12-2 stretch. Williams fueled the run with a pair of trifectas that propelled the Peacocks ahead 69-59 with 4:12 remaining. An 11-0 run then brought Upper Iowa its largest lead of the night at 80-62 with 1:19 left on the clock before a final Winona State three-pointer sealed the game at 80-65 in UIU's favor.

STATS OF THE GAME… 

• The Peacocks held a 25-54 (46.3%) rate from the floor including a 14-33 (42.4%) mark from downtown compared to a 26-73 (35.6%) clip from the field and a 6-27 (22.2%) rate from deep posted by the Warriors.

• Upper Iowa (15) uncharacteristically committed nearly the double turnovers they forced (8). 

• UIU held a slight advantage 40-39 on the glass.

• The Peacocks allowed just 22 points in the second half, the smallest amount that UIU has given up in a single frame since January 2020.

PEACOCKS OF THE GAME… 

• In addition to posting a game-high 25 points and a career-best 15 rebounds, Williams tied his career-high of seven made treyballs for the third time this season as he posted a 7-13 (53.8%) rate from deep.

• Smoldt registered 21 points on a 8-15 (53.3%) rate from the field, six rebounds, and five assists.

• Jake Hilmer tallied 19 points, three rebounds, and two assists on the night

WHAT TO WATCH FOR...

With just one game left in the 2020-21 regular season, Upper Iowa could led the NSIC in (currently in first place unless noted otherwise):

• Points per game at 89.0

• Total points at 1,335

• Field goals made at 167

• Field goal percentage at 41% (in second place)

• Free throw percentage at 81%

• Turnover margin at 4.67

• Assist to turnover ratio at 1.46 (in third place)

• Total steals at 115

• Steals per game at 7.67
   

Individually, Peacocks could led the league in (currently in first place unless noted otherwise):

• Three-point field goals made - Williams at 54

• Three-point field goal percentage - Williams at 42.5% (in second place), Smoldt at 41.9% (in third place)

• Total assists - Hilmer at 67 (in second place)

• Total steals - Lucas Duax at 36

UP NEXT… The Peacocks will play their season finale tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m.