Upper Iowa, ranked No. 20/22 in the latest national polls, pushed their win streak to three games and closed out their run through the Northern Sun Conference North Division with an 82-72 win over the University of Mary in front of UIU's Basketball Alumni Weekend crowd. The win pushed UIU's record to 19-3 overall and 13-3 in the NSIC including a 7-1 record against the NSIC North this season. UMary dropped to 7-13 overall and 6-9 in the conference.
 
Jake Hilmer knocked down 9-16 from the floor, 1-2 from three and 10-11 at the free throw line to score a game-high and a new career-high 29 points. Joe Smoldt finished with 13 points after 11 in the opening frame, while Nick Reid registered 12 points and 10 rebounds and Lucas Duax added 10 points. Connor Duax came off the bench for eight points and four rebounds.
 
Kai Huntsberry led the Marauders with 26 points fueled by five three-pointers. In total, UMary hit 11 three-pointers, while Upper Iowa only converted six on the night.
 
Upper Iowa dominated the glass to the tune of a 43-32 advantage that included 13 offensive rebounds.
 
Smoldt scored Upper Iowa's first eight points on a pair of threes and a jumper where his toes were on the line. The hot start then gave way to Hilmer's big night in the scoring column as UMary began to shade their defense to denying Smoldt good touches.
 
Upper Iowa broke open an 18-18 tie with a quick 6-0 run midway through the opening twenty minutes after baskets by Connor Duax and Reid and a pair of free throws from Hilmer. The Marauders rallied to take a slim one-point lead, 27-26, and the two teams took turns in front as the minutes wound down in the half.
 
UIU made one last 6-0 run in the half to provide a slight cushion and get ahead 39-34 with a minute to play thanks to three-straight makes out of Hilmer's right hand, but UMary was able to cut the lead to two at the break. Huntsberry nailed a three with 19 seconds to play to slim the deficit to two points, 39-37, at half.
 
In the second half, the Peacocks came out and improved their lead to 11, 52-41, in the first five minutes fueled by a 13-4 run that was highlighted by five points from Reid and scores by five different Peacocks. UIU's advantage grew to 13 points, 56-43, at the 13:13 mark, but the Marauders launched a rally behind 12-3 run. Huntsberry converted an old-fashioned three-point play to cut the gap to four, 59-55, with a little over nine minutes to play.
 
The home team answered over the next five minutes by outscoring their guests 14-3 to set the night's biggest lead of 15 points, 73-58, with 4:19 to play. Down the stretch, the Marauders were able to cut the margin to single digits a couple times, but the Peacocks were quick to reset their lead in double figures each time. In the end, a free throw from Connor Duax set the final score at 82-72.
 
Upper Iowa will be on the road next weekend as they return to NSIC South Division action. On Friday, Feb. 4, the Peacocks will take on Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. On Saturday, Feb. 5, Upper Iowa will head to Sioux Falls, S.D. to battle Augustana University in a match up of the south division's two best teams.