No. 13/14 Upper Iowa lost a 90-81 decision at Northern State University on Friday night in Aberdeen, S.D. The Peacocks shot a blistering 60% from the floor in the first half, but the Wolves knocked in 65% of their takes in the opening twenty minutes to build an eight-point lead at half. Northern State improved to 13-8 overall and 7-6 in the Northern Sun, while Upper Iowa falls to 16-3 overall and 10-3 in the NSIC.
 
Joe Smoldt led the Peacocks with 21 points and 5 assists, while Nick Reid added 12 points and six rebounds. The pair combined to hit seven three-pointers on the night. Lucas Duax scored 11 and grabbed five boards, but struggled on offense shooting 5-14 from the field and Dylan Jones added 10 points and five rebounds. Cade Moritz also scored 11 off the bench in 16 minutes.
 
Northern State got 21 points from Jacksen Moni and 20 points, five rebounds and five assists from Sam Masten. Jordan Belka added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Cole Bergan came off the bench to score 16 and grab seven rebounds.
 
Upper Iowa jumped out to a quick 10-3 lead behind scores from four different Peacocks including two baskets by Lucas Duax. Northern State used a 10-0 run to claim a 13-10 lead before Smoldt made his first three-pointer of the game to knot the score at 13-13. Both offenses could not be slowed in the first half as the score began to climb for both sides. A three-pointer from NSU tied the score at 31-31 with under eight to play, but Smoldt had the answer with another three from the wing to put UIU back ahead 34-31.
 
After a Lucas Duax free throw put UIU in the lead, 37-36, with 5:43 to play, the Wolves outscored their guests 16-7 over the final five minutes of the half. During the five minutes, NSU shot 6-8 from the floor and added three free throws, while holding UIU to 3-6 shooting and forcing three Peacock turnovers. After the dust settled from the outburst, the home team held a 52-44 lead at the break.
 
Upper Iowa scored the first five points of the second half on a Jones layup and a Reid three to cut the gap to three, 52-49, but Northern State answered with a 12-3 run that saw the Wolves push out to a 64-52 lead. UIU's only points came on three-straight free throws from Smoldt.
 
With ten minutes to play in the second half, Connor Duax knocked down a three-pointer from the corner to pull the Peacocks back within ten, 69-59. Minutes later a pair of three-pointers from Smoldt brought the Peacocks within seven, 74-67, but a pair of buckets by the Wolves reestablished the home team's double-digit lead, 78-67.
 
Three free throws and a big offensive rebound and putback by Dylan Jones pulled UIU back within six, 78-72, and after a Northern State three, Nick Reid answered with a corner three to keep the margin at six, 81-75. The teams exchanged scores as the clock continued to run toward zero. An inside bucket from Lucas Duax pulled UIU back within five, 86-81, with 49 seconds to play, but the visitors wouldn't get any closer as the Wolves earned the 90-81 decision.
 
Upper Iowa shot the ball well from the three-point line (10-22, 45.5%) in both halves, but knocked down only 6-16 (37.5%) inside the arc in the second half. The Peacocks converted 13-20 (65%) inside the arc in the first twenty minutes. The Peacock defense in the second half was much better allowing just 38 points to the Wolves on 13-31 shooting including 2-11 from three, but UIU couldn't take advantage on the offensive end in the final twenty minutes.
 
The Peacocks entered the game averaging just over nine turnovers per game, the fourth-best per game total in the nation, but on Friday night in Aberdeen, UIU lost the ball 12 times including an uncharacteristic seven from Hilmer. Northern State converted those giveaways into 10 points, but the real cost was Upper Iowa not getting shots on the offensive end where UIU converted 50% of their attempts in the game.
 
The Peacocks are back on the court in Moorhead, Minn. on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Upper Iowa will face Minnesota State University Moorhead; the Dragons defeated Winona State University by a 74-58 count on Friday.

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