Upper Iowa University Athletics

FAYETTE, Iowa - UIU men's basketball (3-0) secured a 90-62 victory over Roosevelt (Ill.) (1-2) on Saturday. Ben Bockman scored 17 points, while tying a team-high six rebounds. 

The Peacocks jumped out to an 8-0 lead three and a half minutes into the game after Tate Petersen splashed home a three. The Lakers then rattled five points over the next minute. 

Upper Iowa answered Roosevelt's five-point spurt with a 15-0 run. Ty Pflughaupt hit a 3-pointer and drew a foul on the shot. Eric Kenesie grabbed Pflughaupt's missed free throw and kicked it out to Ben Bockman, who buried another three to give UIU a 21-5 lead with 12 minutes left in the half. Kenesie capped the run with a driving layup 30 seconds later. During the run, UIU went 4-of-6 from deep, while Roosevelt was 0-for-7.

Roosevelt eventually cut the Peacocks' lead to 31-23 with five minutes remaining in the half, fueled by a 14-4 run over three minutes. Deante Luster led the charge with eight points, hitting the first and final 3-pointer of the spurt.

Within the next minute, Jonah Funk knocked down two free throws before Braden McGlothlin connected from deep to put the lead at 13. Jack Miller later added a 3-pointer with a minute remaining, and Ben Bockman buried another as time expired to send Upper Iowa into halftime with a 50-30 advantage.

The Peacocks shot 18-of-27 (66.7%) from the field in the first half with an 8-of-13 (61.54%) mark on 3-pointers. The Lakers were 11-of-31 (35.48%) from the field and 5-of-20 (20%) from behind the arc over the first 20 minutes. 

A Miller 3-pointer later gave the Peacocks a 76-50 advantage with seven and a half minutes to go in the second half. Miller helped UIU take a 30-point lead after splashing home another deep three and converting a layup. 

Upper Iowa maintained the lead, taking home the 90-62 victory. The final nail in the coffin came off a Jack McGuire turnaround jump shot in the paint, marking the freshman's first career points.

Miller led all scorers with 23 points, shooting 5-of-8 (62.5%) from deep and 9-of-13 (69.2%) in general. This also marked his second straight game with five threes. The Jesup, Iowa native added six rebounds and a steal. 

Bockman totaled 17 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists. The Peacocks were +32 when he was on the floor. Petersen posted 12 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal. 

Pflughaupt recorded five points, four rebounds, a steal, a block and a career-high six assists. He also was +29 for the team. Fresham Jonah Funk ended the night with eight points, four rebounds and an assist. 

Cael Reichter had seven points, three rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. McGlothlin totaled six points and two rebounds. Kenesie posted six points, two rebounds and a steal. 

Anton Fontin finished with four points, five assists and two steals. McGuire scored his first career bucket, and Mason Harter had a rebound. 

Luster led the Lakers with 23 points and six rebounds. Mason Kleinsmith had a RU-high five assists. 

The Peacocks were 34-of-57 (59.6%) from the field, 13-for-25 (52%) from three and 9-for-13 (69.2%) from the charity stripe. The Lakers shot 21-for-59 (35.6%) from floor, 8-of-33 (24.2%) from deep and 12-for-15 (80%) from the free-throw line. 

UIU totaled 21 assists and 36 rebounds, while RU totaled 15 assists and 28 rebounds. Upper Iowa led Roosevelt 40-16 in points in the paint and 38-34 points off the bench. The Lakers led the Peacocks 13-10 in second-chance points. 

This is the first time in two seasons that the Peacocks have started 3-0. UIU will now pursue a 4-0 start, which would mark its first since 2021-22. 

Upper Iowa will go for that fourth win in Minnesota on Wednesday, Nov. 18, to take on Winona State (Minn.) (2-3) at 7 p.m. The team then hosts Purdue Northwest (Ind.) (3-0) on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 3:30 p.m.