THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S BASKETBALL… UIU opens their conference schedule on the road this weekend versus Truman State on Saturday at 3 p.m. Looking ahead into early next week, their GLVC flow will be put on pause as the Peacocks host non-conference opponent North Central University (MN) for their home opener on Tues. Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium.
LIVE COVERAGE OPTIONS… There will be live options for both games while the Peacocks are on the road this weekend and here in Fayette on Tuesday. Both live stats and a webcast can be found through the links attached with this story. Fans can also refer to UIUPeacocks.com/Live for all links on each gameday. The North Central game will be aired on KCRG 9.2 two and a half hours after tip-off at 8:30 p.m.
HIT THE REWIND… Upper Iowa faced two well-versed opponents last weekend as they went 1-1 at the CSP Thanksgiving Classic, defeating Southwest Minnesota State 85-83 and dropping to Concordia, St. Paul 103-92. The Peacocks had a double-digit lead against SMSU in the first half that dwindled when they endured a four-minute scoring drought with nine minutes remaining in the game. Upper Iowa found themselves down by two points with 44 seconds left when a drive and kick allowed
Caleb Delzell to put the Peacocks up by one. After his triple from the corner, UIU led 84-83 and a free throw by
Nick Reid put the team up by two for the win.
In the second game of the weekend, the Peacocks held an 82-81 lead with 5:37 remaining, but allowed the Golden Bears to string together a 13-2 run, nine of those points going unanswered. UIU broke the burst with a pair of free throws from
Noah King, but still trailed by eight (94-86) with two minutes to go. CSP converted nine free throws in the final stretch to end the game ahead by a comfortable margin. King was the only scorer the rest of the way for the Peacocks as he put up six more points to trail Concordia by a deficit of 103-92 at the final buzzer.
HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE… Despite facing a handful of well-polished opponents, the Peacocks have distributed high offensive marks. They lead the GLVC in points per game with 85.5. Going hand-in-hand with their scoring efforts, Upper Iowa is shooting 46.8% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc.
ONE BY ONE… Knocking down shots at the free throw line has continued to be a consistent component of this basketball team. As a unit, the Peacocks are shooting 82.17% from the foul line, as they have made 106-129, ranking them fifth-best in the nation for free throw percentage. Sophomore transfer
Noah King has not missed a free throw all season, as he paces the team with a perfect 21-21.
Jake Hilmer follows close behind as he is shooting 90.4% (47-52) from the charity
Stripe.
DELZELL 2.0… Senior
Caleb Delzell is in his second season with the Peacocks and is on pace for an improved year statistically, with polished marks across the board. The Camanche, Iowa native has seen his on-court time go from 17.2 minutes to 26.5. While on the hardwood, he is averaging nearly four more points per game, 3.5 more rebounds per game and has already rejected seven shots this season, after totaling 12 on the season last year. Delzell is shooting 56.8% from the field and leads the team from beyond the arc with 53.8% (14-26).
THE "GLUE GUYS" ... William Kiburis and
Kyle Hrncir have stepped into big roles for the Peacocks this season. With both averaging around 20 minutes per game, they have filled holes in the offensive and defensive schemes that make them a key part of the rotation. Hrncir is shooting 59.1% from the field and hauls in 3.8 rebounds while adding 5.7 points per game. Kiburis has netted 47.6% from the floor and contributes 4.8 points per game and 3.0 rebounds, while he's tallied the second-most steals on the team so far with five.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS… Truman State is 2-4 on the season, having fallen in their two most recent contest to Concordis, St. Paul (96-54) and Southwest Minnesota State (79-69). They average 74 points per game and are paced by Kobi Williams with 11.5 points per game. Three others just fall under ten points per game: Trey Shearer (9.8), Xavier Hall (9.5) and Brennan Lovette (9.5). TSU shoots over 40% as a team from the three-point line, led by Shearer (16-30) and Casen Lawrence (15-29).
SCOUTING THE RAMS… North Central is an affiliate of the UMAC, a Division III conference of eight full-time members from schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Rams are 2-4 on the season, having defeated Augustana College (IL) and Grace Christian University. Their most recent loss was to UW-Stout 78-75 on Wednesday. NCU has five individuals averaging double digits and are led in scoring by Cameron Thomas with 13 points per game. Thomas brings in six rebounds per game and has tallied 17 blocks. Nik Feller leads the team in assists with 27 and three-point percentage with 42.9% (9-21).
ON THE HORIZON… The Peacocks turn around and play Truman State for the second time at home next weekend on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. Their final game in December is set for Tuesday, Dec. 19 as they host non-conference opponent St. Cloud State at 12 p.m. in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium.
