The No. 19/23 Peacock men's basketball team rebounded from their second loss of the season with a 74-63 win on the road on Friday evening. Upper Iowa distanced themselves from the University of Minnesota Crookston despite shooting just 3-21 from the three-point line. The victory improves UIU's record to 13-2 overall and 7-2 in the Northern Sun, while UMC drops to 4-11 overall and 1-8 in the conference.
 
Nick Reid paced the Peacocks with a double-double thanks to 15 points and 10 rebounds, while three other Peacocks scored in double figures including Jake HIlmer with 17, Lucas Duax with 16 and Max Duax with 11.
 
The Golden Eagles were led by Brian Sitzmann, who scored 16 and pulled down six rebounds, and Leonard Dixon, who recorded 13 points and eight rebounds.
 
Upper Iowa's offense was cold in the game converting just 37.8% of their shots including the frigid 14.3% from deep, but their defense was solid holding the Golden Eagles to 37.9% shooting and 30% from beyond the arc. UIU took advantage of 10 steals that led to a 16-7 advantage in points off turnovers and 15 offensive rebounds that led to a 17-7 advantage in second chance points.
 
UIU got off to a great 11-5 start in the first five minutes as Lucas Duax made the most of his first start of the season with nine quick points. The reigning NSIC Defensive Player of the Year got the start while leading scorer Jareese Williams is dealing with an injury.
 
The home team answered the early UIU run with a 16-6 outburst as the Peacocks only converted two of their 10 shots during the run. After UMC's spurt, the Golden Eagles held a 21-17 lead with 8:25 on the clock.
 
Upper Iowa closed out the final eight and a half minutes on a 16-4 run that saw UIU make seven of their 15 shots and take a 33-25 lead into the locker room at halftime. Five different Peacocks scored during the run led by Max Duax's six points and Reid's four.
 
Minnesota Crookston cut into Upper Iowa's lead several times in the first five minutes of the second half, but the visitors were able to push their lead back out each time the home team charged. The Peacocks began to put the game away by outscoring the Golden Eagles 19-9 through the mid-point of the half to take a 58-44 lead after a three-pointer from Hilmer and a lay up from Max Duax.
 
Over the final minutes, Upper Iowa was able to push their lead to its largest point of 15 points before settling for an 11-point victory, 74-63.
 
Upper Iowa will play at Bemidji State University on Saturday, Jan. 8 at 3:30 p.m. While the Peacocks scored a victory on Friday night, the Beavers lost a five-point (79-74) decision at home to Winona State University on Friday.