Upper Iowa, ranked No. 15/13 in the two national polls and No. 2 in the NCAA Central Region Rankings, was pushed to the limit by Minnesota State University, Mankato on Thursday night in Fayette. The Mavericks held a nine-point lead midway through the second half, but the home team's defense only allowed five points over the final nine and a half minutes. The come-from-behind, 68-63 win secured an undefeated, 13-0, record on Prochaska Court this season and improved UIU's record to 23-4 overall and 17-4 in the NSIC.
 
Hilmer led the Peacocks in scoring with 17 points and added four assists, while Lucas Duax came off the bench to score 12 points on 6-9 shooting and chipped in four steals and two assists. Dylan Jones scored 11 and pulled down two rebounds. Nick Reid led the Peacocks' effort on the glass with 10 rebounds, while Jareese Williams returned from injury after missing 12 games to score six and pull in eight boards. Connor Duax scored six big points in the first half on 3-5 shooting and snared three rebounds.
 
Williams knocked down one three-pointer in his return to become just the second player in Upper Iowa history to make 300 three-pointers joining his teammate Joe Smoldt in accomplishing that milestone.
 
Quincy Anderson paced the Mavericks with 22 points, six rebounds and six steals, while Brady Williams scored 12 points and pulled in eight rebounds.
 
Midway through the second half, the Mavericks used a 10-2 run to push a one-point lead into a nine-point advantage, 58-49. Minnesota State drained a pair of three-pointers and Devonte Thedford floated in for two lay ups while forcing a pair of Peacock turnovers and allowing just one lay up to Jones. When Thedford's second layup went through the net, UIU took a timeout and figured out how to make their stand.
 
After a few defensive stops, Hilmer found Cade Moritz rolling the hoop and the senior center dunked the ball to reenergize a raucous crowd. Joe Smoldt found Lucas Duax on a hard cut off an out of bound play for two more and after the Mavericks scored one at the free throw line, the Peacocks knocked down a pair of threes out of the hands of Hilmer and Nick Reid. Reid's three came on the fast break right in front of UIU's student section and tied the score at 59-59.
 
A pair of free throws with four and a half minutes to play pushed the visitors back in front 63-61, but Upper Iowa's defense did not allow another point for the remainder of the game. Lay ups by Hilmer and Lucas Duax gave UIU a 65-63 lead and a free throw from Jareese Williams and two from Smoldt put the game out of reach in the final seconds as the home team won 68-63.
 
Upper Iowa will wrap up their regular season schedule on Saturday at Concordia University, St. Paul. The Peacocks and Golden Bears are set for a 5:30 p.m. tip in the Twin Cities.