THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCKS MEN'S BASKETBALL… Upper Iowa will face Minot State University in the quarterfinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament on Friday, February 26 at 4:00 p.m. The NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament will take place at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Live options will be available at UIUPeacocks.com/Live. The game will also stream live on the NSIC Network app through Roku and Fire devices as well as Apple and Android TVs.

NSIC/SANFORD HEALTH TOURNAMENT HISTORY… The Peacocks fell to Minnesota State University Moorhead 82-66 in the second round of last season's tournament after suffering back-to-back first round exits. In 2016-17, Upper Iowa made it all the way to the finals where they fell 71-58 to Southwest Minnesota State University. A trio of quarterfinal round exits preceded the finals appearance. In the inaugural tournament during the 2012-13 season, Upper Iowa made a run to the semifinals before suffering a narrow loss to Bemidji State University (64-61).

WEEKEND SPLIT WITH THE WARRIORS… Upper Iowa split its final regular season series with Winona State. On Friday, Upper Iowa won 80-65 extending their win streak to eight straight games. The Warriors were up as many as 19 in the first frame before UIU took over and ran away with a 15-point win. On Saturday, the Peacocks' streak of perfection came to an end via a 90-67 loss. The Peacocks scored the first basket of the game and from that point forward the Warriors were in control ending their season on a high note and handing UIU a minor setback upon entering postseason play.

THREE'S A CROWD, FOUR'S A PARTY… The Northern Sun Conference handed out their men's basketball awards Wednesday and four Peacocks were honored by the league. Redshirt sophomore guard Lucas Duax was named the NSIC South Division Defensive Player of the Year and senior guard Jareese Williams was named to the All-NSIC South First Team while senior guard Joe Smoldt and sophomore point guard Jake Hilmer were named to the All-NSIC South Second Team.

Duax started all 12 conference games during the 2020-21 campaign leading the NSIC for second-consecutive season with 29 steals and recording an NSIC second-best 2.4 per game. The league's top theft also held a team best 6.1 rebounds per game in NSIC play. The Dubuque, Iowa native ranked in the top 15 in the NSIC in scoring (15.8 points per game) and field goal percentage (49.3%). Duax scored in double-figures in 10 conference bouts surpassing the 20 point mark on four occasions.

Williams, a 2019-20 All-NSIC Second Team member, averaged an NSIC fourth-best 18.5 points per game in part thanks to a 44.3% (47-106) mark from beyond the arc in conference play. The Mason City Iowa native started all 12 conference games holding a 43.9% rate from the field and a 83.3% clip from the stripe to go along with a team second-best 5.8 rebounds per night. The senior scored in double-digits every game this season, surpassing 20 points five times in NSIC matchups.

Smoldt, a 2019-20 All-NSIC Second Team member, started all 12 conference games this season averaging 16.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists to go along with a 41.2% field goal percentage. The senior's 90.6% rate from the charity stripe was the NSIC's fourth-best while his 38.8% mark from downtown ranked fifth in the conference. Smoldt scored in double-figures in eight conference contests including six 20+ point performances.

Hilmer, a 2019-20 All-NSIC Honorable Mention, started all 12 NSIC matchups for the Peacocks tallying 13.3 points, an NSIC ninth-best 3.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds per contest. The sophomore shot 45.2% from the floor, 45.5% from deep, and 87.5% from the charity stripe which was good for the seventh-best mark in the conference. Hilmer had six nights in double digits including a trio of 20+ point games. The Walker, Iowa native dished out five or more assists three times including a nine assist game in a win over Augie.

BEATING THE BEAVERS… Upper Iowa holds a 9-3 all-time record against Minot State including six straight wins from 2011-2015. In NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament play versus the Beavers, the Peacocks hold the advantage 2-1. In the two team's most recent bout, UIU was victorious by a 94-71 count. Williams, Smoldt, Duax and Jackson Joens were all in double-figures that evening combining for 51 points. 

MATCHING UP WITH MINOT… Minot State went 8-6 during the 2020-21 campaign and 6-4 in NSIC play. MiSU swept the University of Mary during the final weekend of regular season play after dropping a pair of games to NSIC North Champion Northern State University the weekend prior. Leading the Beavers is All-NSIC First Teamer, Max Cody. Cody averaged a team-high 14.9 points and a league-leading 5.4 assists per game this year. Melvin Newbern, an All-NSIC Honorable Mention, averages 14.1 points and an NSIC fifth-best 9.2 rebounds per night providing a one-two punch for Minot. Rounding out the starting unit are Cam'ron Dunfee, Kody Dwyer, and Steven Ross Jr. The trio combines for 32.8 points and 12.9 rebounds per contest. As a team, Minot State ranks fourth in the NSIC in defensive scoring as MiSU has allowed just 72.4 points per game thus far.