The Peacocks dropped an 81-68 decision at home to the Warriors of Winona State University. Upper Iowa moved to 7-7 overall and 4-4 in the NSIC after the loss, while Winona State improved to 8-5 and 3-5 in the conference.
 
The loss snapped two impressive home streaks for the Peacocks. Upper Iowa had won 23 straight NSIC games in Fayette dating back to a 79-62 loss to St. Cloud State University on Jan. 31, 2020 and 20 straight non-conference games in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium dating back to a non-league, 92-90 loss against Winona State on Jan. 17, 2021.
 
Jake Hilmer led the Peacocks with 32 points on 11-22 shooting and 5-10 from three and added seven assists. Nick Reid scored 12 on four three-pointers, while Dylan Jones and Carter Janssen each added eight points.
 
Connor Dillon (21) and Luke Martens (20) combined for 41 points with seven makes apiece, while James Kelley added 13 and Connor Drew scored 12.
 
Winona State posted big advantages in points in the paint (46-14), points off turnovers (17-6), and free throw makes (22-7). The Warriors played tough defense on the Peacock drives and contested UIU jumpers all game.
 
A three-pointer from Janssen with 16:31 on the clock in the second half pulled the Peacocks within four, 46-42, but the home team would not get any closer over the remaining minutes. Midway through the half, a layup from Lucas Duax kept UIU within striking distance, 56-50, but Winona State began to put the game away with an 11-3 run to open up a 14-point advantage, 67-53, with five minutes to play.
 
Unlike their first meeting in Winona, Minn., the Warriors maintained their advantage with great shooting from the free throw line to hold their edge to the final buzzer.
 
Upper Iowa will stay at home next weekend with a pair of games in Fayette against Bemidji State University and the University of Minnesota Crookston on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 6-7, 2023. The games will be UIU's first NSIC cross-division games of the season.