Upper Iowa men's basketball remained tenacious in their efforts on the hardwood as they picked up their sixth consecutive win while improving to 9-2 in conference play and 14-5 overall. The Peacocks defeated Missouri-St. Louis on Prochaska Court Thursday evening in an 81-68 decision. 
 
UIU continued to wall up on the defensive end as they held their opponents to 12 points below their average allowed per game (80.4). On the flip side, they took good care of the basketball as they committed five turnovers while UMSL had 16. 
 
The Peacocks started off the game trailing the Tritons 8-2, and only converted two layups before allowing the visitors to score another eight consecutive points for the 16-6 lead. The Hilmer brothers went on to score the next eight points as Austin Hilmer connected on a corner three on an assist from his brother to give Upper Iowa a boost off the bench. After Jake Hilmer's and-one from the elbow and another jump shot on the very next possession, the Peacocks pulled within four (18-14). 
 
After a three-pointer from the Tritons, UIU responded with a 6-0 burst fueled by a layup and jump shot from Ethan Steinbronn, split between a connection from long range by Caleb Delzell, tying the game up at 21 apiece. 
 
UMSL scored once more bucket at the basket before Upper Iowa went on an 11-2 run for the 32-25 advantage. The teams traded baskets until the end of the first half, leaving the home team with the 38-33 lead at the break. 
 
J. Hilmer concluded the first stint with 18 points and was aided in the stat line by Kyle Hrncir who dished out five assists and nabbed four rebounds. 
 
King and Hrncir opened up the second half converting shots from the block, but UMSL hung around as they hit a pair of shots to remain five points shy of UIU's lead. 

The Peacocks led by ten (55-45) with 13 minutes remaining in the second period when they strung together an 11-2 burst to put them ahead 63-47 with under ten to go. Upper Iowa held their largest lead of 17 points in the second half with 3:20 left on the scoreboard. UMSL's Matt Enright netted five straight points for his squad to cut into the lead, but UIU retaliated with a pair of free throws from J. Hilmer and a King jumper to combat his individual scoring display. The Triton's concluded on a shot from downtown before succumbing to Upper Iowa and giving them another win on their record. 
 
J. Hilmer ended the game with 23 points and five steals. King recorded 16 points, while Delzell and Nick Reid recorded eight. Steinbronn and A. Hilmer each produced six points off the bench.
 
Kyle Hrncir performed as a jack of all trades as he tallied nine points, six rebounds, four steals and six assists.
 
Upper Iowa shot 50.8% from the field as a unit and 42.1% from long distance, while UMSL converted an even 50% from the floor and 25% beyond the arc. 
 
The Peacocks wrap up their weekend with another home contest on Saturday as they host the McKendree Bearcats in Dorman Gymnasium at 3 p.m.