After their best first half of the young season, the Peacocks couldn't maintain their advantage in Kirksville, Mo. as the Bulldogs of Truman State University closed the first half on a good run and then controlled the pace in the second half to come away with a 91-78 decision. TSU's 50-point second half fueled the victory and improved the Bulldogs' record to 2-1, while UIU falls to 1-2.
 
Jake Hilmer (26) and Lucas Duax (21) combined for 47 points lead the Peacocks and Max Duax made all three of his first-half three-pointers to score nine points. Unfortunately for UIU, the rest of the squad combined for 22 points on 7-22 shooting including 3-12 from beyond the arc. The Peacocks also, uncharacteristically, left a ton of points at the free throw line. Upper Iowa only converted 12 of their 23 chances at the charity stripe.
 
While the Peacock offense struggled in the second half, the Bulldog attack was just getting warmed up. Truman State was led b , Elijah Hazekamp, who netted 23 points, and three other players in double figures and one more at nine points in the game. TSU shot 52.4% for the game knocking down 33 field goals and 16-19 at the free throw line.
 
Upper Iowa built an early lead, 28-12, behind tremendous shooting and solid defense. During the opening ten minutes, the Peacocks hit 11-17 shots including three triples led by seven points from Hilmer, six from each Duax and five from Caleb Delzell. While the offense was humming along nicely, the defense forced the home team into 6-16 shooting from the floor and 0-5 from deep.
 
The Bulldogs turned the tables on Upper Iowa over the final 10 minutes of the half outscoring their guests 29-19 to climb back within six, 47-41, at the break. Brandon Kracht scored 11 during the run to spark the Bulldogs. During the run, the Peacocks were still shooting the ball well hitting 7-13 from the floor and 4-6 from three, but four UIU turnovers were causing problems.
 
Four minutes into the second half, Upper Iowa got a free throw from Hilmer to put the Peacocks ahead 55-50. The home team then launched a 19-4 run that took eight minutes of game time and left UIU behind by double digits, 69-59. TSU made 8-12 field goals including a pair of three-pointers in the run and held UIU to just a pair of makes on 12 shots.
 
Upper Iowa wouldn't get any closer than eight points over the final minutes as Truman State was able to hold off any Peacock rallies and grew their lead to a high-mark of 16 points, 88-72, before settling in at a final margin of 91-78.
 
Truman State claimed big advantages in points off turnovers (16-8), second chance points (12-6), points in the paint (40-26) and fast break points (8-4).

Upper Iowa will get back on the court in St. Louis, Mo. on Friday evening. The Peacocks will take on the Saints of Maryville University on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m.