­Upper Iowa knocked down 15 three-pointers in their first game of the Bahama House Shootout to claim a 91-84 victory over Wingate University in Daytona Beach, Fla. on Friday night. The Peacocks took an eight-point lead into the locker room at halftime and held on for the seven-point win fueled by four players that scored in double digits. The win improved UIU's record to 3-3 overall, while Wingate fell back to 2-2 on the season. Both teams are coming off 20-plus win seasons a year ago.
 
Jake Hilmer led all scorers following up his electric, game-winning three-pointer from Tuesday night in Winona, Minn. with 30 points on 12-20 shooting from the field on Friday in Florida. Hilmer knocked down 4-7 from deep and added a pair at the line. The Peacock point guard also handed out eight assists in the game.
 
Nick Reid (19), Caleb Delzell (18) and Lucas Duax (14) also all scored in double figures. Reid posted a double-double thanks to 11 rebounds and knocked down 3-5 from three and 4-5 at the free throw line. Delzell set a new UIU career-high thanks to six three-pointers and added five rebounds off the bench. Lucas Duax netted his 14 points and added an assist and two steals. Dylan Jones didn't need to score on the night, but did grab four points, six rebounds and four assists.
 
Donell Nixon II led the Bulldogs with 17 points, while Josh Massey scored 16 and Jarren Cottingham (12) and Destin Clark (11) combined for 23 points with Clark registering 8 rebounds as well.
 
Delzell's first trifecta of the day came seven minutes into the game and sparked a run for the Peacocks that resulted in an early 13-point lead. The long-range bullseye from Delzell allowed Upper Iowa to go on a 11-3 run that included another three-pointer from Austin Hilmer and five points from Lucas Duax.
 
Wingate rallied with a 12-2 run over the next six minutes that cut the gap from 13 points to just three after Massey knocked down a jumper in the paint. Upper Iowa was quick to answer and had their lead back to a dozen, 37-25, thanks to a 9-0 run that was capped off with another Delzell three-pointer. UIU took their 42-34 lead into the locker room at half.
 
An 8-0 run to open the frame by Wingate allowed the Bulldogs to tie the game at 42-42 just a little over two minutes into play. Minutes later, the Bulldogs took their one and only lead on the day, 50-49, on a Cottingham layup. Eight straight points from the Peacocks including another trifecta from Delzell pushed the Peacocks back into the lead, 57-50.
 
Wingate continued to keep the pressure on, but each time the Bulldgos pulled close, the Peacocks would find their stride on offense and push their lead back to two or three scores. Upper Iowa secured the win by knocking down six of their final eight free throws inside of the final four minutes.
 
Upper Iowa will take on Elizabeth City State University on Saturday, Nov. 26 in the final game of the 2022 Bahama House Shootout in Daytona Beach, Fla. at 6:30 p.m. CT.