Upper Iowa men's basketball suffered their first loss since Dec. 2 as they dropped to Illinois Springfield in an 88-71 decision. The Peacocks recorded their lowest offensive point total of the season and shot 37.3% from the floor, while the Prairie Stars hit 50% of their shots. UIU fell to 8-5 (3-2 GLVC) while UIS improved to 12-5 and 5-2 in conference play. 
 
Jake Hilmer knocked down 32 points and went 13-25 from the floor to lead all scorers. Nick Reid recorded a double-double as he put up 14 points and hauled in 11 rebounds, while Noah King chipped in 11 points and five boards. 
 
The Prairie Stars led 26-11 with 11 minutes remaining in the first half, but a steal from Hilmer that led to a three-point basket from Caleb Delzell created a momentum shift that inspired a 9-0 run. After a driving layup from Springfield broke the scoring burst, the Peacocks responded with another 7-0 slide with a free throw from Delzell, a layup from King and two jump shots from Hilmer to only trail 30-29.
 
A few possessions later, Hilmer netted back-to-back jumpers that gave Upper Iowa their only lead of the night (33-32).

A buzzer beater from Hilmer just before the first half expired brought the Peacocks within four, trailing 42-38. 
 
Within the first five minutes of the second stint, Upper Iowa fell behind by ten points and trailed 56-46. The Peacocks were unable to keep up with the Prairie stars as they could not pull any closer than a nine-point margin for the remainder of the contest. 
 
UIUI committed 11 turnovers while UIS recorded six. The Prairie stars played big around the rim as they tallied five blocks and netted 48 points in the paint, while Upper Iowa had 28. 
 
The Peacocks are back on the hardwood Saturday versus Quincy at 3 p.m.