THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S HOOPS
Upper Iowa is back home this weekend as they host Lincoln on Thursday at 7 p.m. and GLVC's front-runner Missouri S&T on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Peacocks head into the weekend second place in the GLVC standings at a 9-4 league record and overall mark of 15-6. Missouri S&T is currently ranked #5 in the NABC Poll behind a flawless 12-0 conference record and an 18-2 mark overall. Lincoln is 6-6 in the GLVC and 14-6 on the year.
 
LIVE OPTIONS
Fans unable to make it to the games in Fayette this weekend can stay connected with a pair of live options at UIUPeacocks.com/Live, with access to live stats and a pay-per-view webcast through GLVCSN. Fans can also refer to the links attached to this story for all live options. 
 
HIGH MARKS IN THE GLVC
As a unit, the Peacocks lead the way in the league in a handful of statistical categories in the conference. They are ranked first in three-point field goals made (9.7 per game), opponent three-point field goal percentage (29.8%), combined team rebounds (42.4 per game), offensive rebounds (14.0 per game) and blocked shots (4.24 per game).
 
Individually, Nick Reid continues to pace the league in points per game (24.6), and is listed second in rebounds (8.8). Caleb Delzell is first in blocks on the season with 41 (2.0 per game). Noah King is sixth in points per game with 16.2, and Kyle Hrncir leads the conference in offensive rebounds per game with 3.1 and 65 on the year. 
 
POINT RATING SYSTEM (Courtesy of GLVC Sports)
The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) will continue using its Point Rating System (PRS) as the qualifying procedure for its annual men's and women's basketball tournaments. The PRS will be used to determine the top eight men's and women's teams that will advance to the 2025 GLVC Basketball Championship Tournaments, which will be held March 6-9, at Hyland Arena on the campus of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.
 
The PRS is designed to provide a team more points for a win on the road or at home against top competition based on Conference winning percentage while distributing fewer points for a win against weaker competition. Points are also distributed for losses, with more points awarded for a loss against stronger competition versus if the team lost at home or on the road to a struggling team.
 
THE FIRST EDITION OF THE PRS
The GLVC released the first edition of the Point Rating System after the conclusion of conference games last weekend. The top eight teams at the end of the season will earn berth to the GLVC Championship Tournament. The Peacocks were listed second with a 3.85, trailing Missouri S&T at 4.75. The remaining teams rounding out the top eight were Lewis (3.83) in third, followed by Rockhurst (3.77), Missouri-St. Louis (3.58), McKendree (3.35), Truman State (3.33) and Lincoln (3.17). 
 
Read more by visiting the link attached to this story. 
 
LAST TIME THEY MET WITH THE BLUE TIGERS
In UIU's last meeting with the Blue Tigers in Jefferson City, Mo., the Peacocks were victorious in a 71-61 final. Upper Iowa found some distance from Lincoln as they put together a 17-3 burst to go ahead 26-12 with 9:16 remaining in the first half. The run was fueled by back-to-back three-pointers from Austin Hilmer, complemented by two long-range shots from Kyle Hrncir and one from Caleb Delzell.  
 
The Peacocks led 31-23 at the intermission, but the Blue Tigers had a momentum-changing first minute and a half of the second session, as they charged for a 9-0 run out of the break, taking a quick 32-31 lead. Delzell aided UIU from their rut by knocking down back-to-back threes to pull them ahead 38-36.  A Hrncir free throw followed by a William Kiburis and-one gave the Peacocks the 42-36 lead. A three-point knock by Ryan Heise with eight minutes left left allowed the team a comfortable lead, pulling ahead 55-47. Heise notched a layup on the team's next possession, grabbing the 57-49 advantage.
 
The Peacocks strung together one last run of the contest with seven unanswered points to lead 68-54 with under three minutes remaining. 
 
LAST TIME THEY MET WITH THE MINERS
In UIU's last meeting with the Miners in Rolla, Mo., they fell to S&T in a 90-86 decision. UIU saw its largest lead of ten (30-20) against the Miners with 8:43 left in the first half, but the green and gold executed a 16-4 run to gain the 36-33 lead and swing the momentum in their favor. S&T led 48-43 at the intermission. The contest was tied 78-78 with 1:43 remaining when a Peacock turnover led to a Miner and-one at the rim to put S&T ahead 81-78 and shift the momentum in their favor. Nick Reid netted one at the charity stripe, but the Miners responded with a three from the top of the key on the other end to push their advantage to 84-79. 
 
Reid connected on a pair of free throws to pull within three (84-81), but the green and gold responded with two of their own, pushing the lead back to five. Noah King notched a driving layup to cut the lead to three with 22 seconds left on the clock. UIU was forced to foul and sent the Miners to the line as they netted another two for the 89-83 lead. 
 
Caleb Delzell knocked down a corner three to cut into the deficit (89-86), but S&T connected on one out of two at the foul line on their next trip. The home team's four-point lead put the game out of reach for the Peacocks.
 
ON DECK
The Peacocks have their final road stretch next weekend as they travel to St. Louis to challenge Maryville on Thursday, Feb. 13 and Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday, Feb. 15.