FAYETTE, Iowa - Peacock men's basketball (8-1, 3-0 GLVC) pulled away in the second half on Sunday to defeat Clarke (3-12), 103-74, after holding just a one-point lead at halftime. Tate Petersen led the Peacocks with 14 points, knocking down 4-of-7 (57.1%) from beyond the arc.

Upper Iowa held a narrow 41-40 advantage at halftime following a sluggish first half. Clarke briefly evened the score at 43-43 when Luster drained a three-pointer at the 19:17 mark, but Kyle Hrncir answered with a layup at 18:43 to put the Peacocks back in front. Upper Iowa went on a 24-8 to control the contest the rest of the way.

Petersen scored 11 of his 14 points during that run while the Peacocks shot 9-of-12 (75%) from the field. The junior from Monticello knocked down three 3-pointers over the run. 

After the Pride's Michael Kascel scored a basket at 12:33 to make the score 67-53, the Peacocks went on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to give them a 76-53 lead at 9:24. The highlight of the run was a Jack Miller slam dunk after a turnover. 

UIU outscored CU, 27-20, over the next 8:36 to solidify the 103-74 victory. During the final stretch, UIU went 11-of-17 (67.7%) from the field and went 3-for-6 behind the 3-point line. 

The Peacocks were sluggish in the first 13 minutes of the half. They shot 9-of-25 (36%) from the floor and 2-for-12 (16.7%) from behind the arc. Upper Iowa did not take its first lead of the half until 7:22, Ashton Hermann's two made free throws gave them a 25-23 advantage. 

UIU stretched its lead to 36-27 at 3:27 before CU went on a 13-5 run to close out the half. The Peacocks only points came from the free-throw line during the stretch, while the Pride made four of their six shot attempts, burying all three of their 3-pointers. 

Petersen shot 5-for-8 (62.5%) from the field and hauling in two rebounds. Hermann scored a season-high 13 points while also adding a rebound and an assist.

Hrincir had a complete day with 12 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block. Cael Reichter and Ty Pflughaupt posted 10 points. Reichter also added eight rebounds and two assists. 

DeMarco Clayton led Clake with a team-high 15 points shooting 6-for-10 (60%) from the field. He also had eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. The Pride had four players in double-figures. 

Upper had 14 players score this afternoon. Upper Iowa outscored Clarke in both points in the paint 52-28 and in bench points, 63-37. The Peacocks shot 38-for-77 (49.4%) from the field, rebounding from a 14-for-37 (37.8%) first-half start from the field.

UIU squares up against Roosevelt (Ill.) (0-6) on Thursday at 3 p.m.Upper Iowa defeated the Lakers, 88-76, on Nov. 15 at the Midwest Crossover.