THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S BASKETBALL… Upper Iowa is back at home this weekend for their first home weekend of Northern Sun Conference action. The Peacocks welcome the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls (7-2, 2-1 NSIC) on Friday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. before bringing in the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University (4-3, 1-2 NSIC) on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m. UIU heads into the weekend having split their conference games last weekend with a win over Concordia University, St. Paul at home before dropping a road game at No. 16 Minnesota State University, Mankato. USF scored a pair of wins last week at home against Wayne State College and across town at Augustana University to push their current win streak to four straight games. SMSU won four of their first five games including a win at home over Sioux Falls in their NSIC opener, but the Mustangs lost both games last weekend at home to Augustana and on the road at Wayne State.
 
LIVE OPTIONS… Both home games this week will have live options available for fans who can't make it to Fayette. Live stats and a webcast will be available through links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live. In addition, the games can be streamed through most mobile devices at NSICNetwork.com/UIUPeacocks or through the NSIC Network app on your streaming device. Friday's game will be broadcast on KCRG-TV 9.2, but delayed until 11 p.m., while Saturday's game will be broadcast live on KCRG-TV 9.2.
 
GET YOUR TICKETS… Upper Iowa has partnered with HomeTown Ticketing for all of this season's basketball games in Dorman. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at UIUPeacocks.com/Tickets or by paying cash in person prior to the match. Fans are encouraged to stay ahead of the curve this season with the HomeTown Ticketing Fan App available on all mobile device platforms. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids (ages 5-18) and free for kids under 5 and is good for both games of the double header.
 
DIGITAL MATCHDAY PROGRAM… Digital programs are available to fans in Dorman Gymnasium or at home for both games this weekend. Fans can access the interactive gameday program at any time at UIUPeacocks.com/Programs. QR Codes will also be located around the lobby to scan with your cell phone's camera that will link you directly to that game's specific digital gameday program.
 
1,000 REASONS TO LOVE LUCAS… Senior guard Lucas Duax is a fan favorite and he is nearing a monster milestone that will give Peacock fans another reason to cheer for the Dubuque native. Duax is poised to become the 31^st UIU men's basketball player to reach the 1,000-point milestone. Entering the weekend, Duax has scored 961 points in Peacock blue and white with a career shooting percentage of 52.6% in his 84 games. This season, Duax is averaging 17.9 points (9^th NSIC), 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 steals (33^rd NCAA DII/1^st NSIC) per game.
 
TRIPLE THREAT ON THE PERIMETER… Upper Iowa boasts a triple threat on the perimeter fueled by the play of Jake Hilmer, Lucas Duax, and Nick Reid. The trio is averaging over 52 points per game for the Peacocks while pulling down nearly 20 rebounds, handing out a little over eight assists, and snatching more than four steals per game. Hilmer leads the team in points and assists averaging 20.1 points (7^th NSIC), 4.9 assists (4^th NSIC), and 3.8 rebounds each time out. Reid is scoring 14.3 points and pulling down a NSIC-best 9.4 rebounds per game; his rebound average ranks 26^th in all of NCAA Division II. Reid's three double-doubles tie for 20^th in the nation and leads the NSIC as well.
 
REDEFINING POST PLAY… Post players Dylan Jones and Caleb Delzell redefine the old-school notion of post players operating with their back to the basket down in the paint. Jones is averaging 8.1 points and 5.0 rebounds and is constantly on the move with and without the ball. Jones scores for the Peacocks in a lot of ways but the most common buckets come on finishes at the rim whether they come from a pass from a driving guard or if he blows by his defender from the perimeter. The Waukee product is shooting 59.6% from the floor and has made three of his six shots from behind the arc. Delzell is a new piece of the Peacock offense from their historic run last season. The smooth-shooting post is shooting 36.4% from three with 17 made three-pointers through the first nine games. Delzell is averaging 6.7 points and 2.6 rebounds this season.
  
SCOUTING THE COUGARS...  USF is scoring 72.4 points per game while allowing their guests just 67.3 points per contest. The Cougars are shooting 43.3% from the floor and 34.3% from three while knocking down 74.4% of their chances at the charity stripe. Sioux Falls has controlled the boards in their nine games averaging 36.8 and a +5.7 in rebound margin. Matt Cartwright, this week's NSIC South Division Player of the Week, leads the team with a 21.4 points per game average; he is shooting 50.4% from the floor and 50% from three and grabs 5.7 rebounds per game. Jack Thompson is adding 11.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, while Chase Grinde is averaging 7.4 points and 6.8 rebounds a contest.
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS...  SMSU is averaging 69.3 points per game thanks to shooting percentages of 46.2 from the field, 36.8 from deep and 80.6 from the free throw line. The team is pulling down 33.7 rebounds per game and has a +2.3 margin on the glass. The Mustangs boast four players that score in double figures led by Dunwa Omot with 13.9 points per game. Jake Phillps is posting 10.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, while both Anthony Costello and Cliff McCray average 10.4 points and Mason Lund is recording 9.9 points per game. SMSU is holding their opponents to 66.3 points per game.

LOOKING AHEAD… Upper Iowa is on the road next weekend for their final games prior to the holiday break. The Peacocks will play at Augustana University on Saturday, Dec. 17 and then head to Wayne State College for a game on Sunday, Dec. 18. Following the two games, UIU will take a short break for the holidays and return to action with a home game on Saturday, Dec. 31 against Winona State University.