FAYETTE, Iowa - Peacock men's basketball (15-8, 10-6 GLVC) gets back into the win column after beating Missouri-St. Louis (14-11, 8-8 GLVC), 65-57. Kyle Hrncir recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The Peacocks forced 20 turnovers, including 11 during the second half. UIU totaled 13 steals. The Tritons forced 13 turnovers, with seven steals. Upper Iowa scored 21 points off turnovers compared to UMSL's 10.
Jack Miller helped Upper Iowa increase its lead to 14-9 with 11:28 left in the first half after hitting a step-back jump shot. He made a 3-pointer and a layup over the next three and a half minutes, giving UIU an eight-point lead.
Four minutes later, Missouri-St. Louis' Vincent Davis III hit a jumpshot to climb within six, before a Kyle Hrncir layup and Miller jumpshot increased Upper Iowa's lead to 30-20 with 1:28 to go. UMSL cut the halftime deficit back down to six off a Makeer Makeer layup and two free throws by Davis III, 30-24.
UIU took a 44-32 advantage with 13:33 minutes left in the second half, after going on a 7-0 run that started three minutes earlier off a Miller three. Zach Erwin knocked down a pair of free throws, and Hrncir capped off the run with a driving layup. The Tritons were held scoreless for 4:24 during that stretch in the second half, shooting 0-for-6 from the field.
Demetris Phillips sparked the Triton surge, making a layup with 11:25 to go. Three minutes later, the Tritons had trimmed the deficit to 46-44 following a 10-0 run. The team was 5-for-6 (83.3%) from the field during this stretch, holding the Peacocks scoreless for 3:44 and shooting 0-for-5 from the field.
The Peacocks woke up after a timeout and went on a 6-0 run to push their lead to 52-44 with five minutes left in the game after an Erwin layup, a Hrncir layup and Trey Lewis free throws. Tate Petersen hit a 3-pointer two and a half minutes later to put UIU up 11. Upper Iowa held on to win 65-57, despite Missouri-St. Louis closing the gap to five with thirty seconds left in the game.
Along with his double-double, Hrncir added five assists and a steal. Jack Miller had 15 points, shooting 6-for-12 (50%) from the field, with four rebounds and a steal. Petersen posted 11 points, three steals and a rebound.
Lewis totaled seven points, two steals and a rebound. Cael Reichter recorded seven points, three rebounds, two assists and a block. Erwin scored four points and had a team-high two blocks. Eric Kenesie played active defense, recording a team-high four steals.
Davis III scored 15 points and hauled in 14 rebounds for the UMSL. Makeer scored 15 points and ripped down 11 rebounds.
UMSL scored 20 second-chance points compared to UIU's eight. The Peacocks were also outrebounded, 42-29. The Tritons outscored Upper Iowa, 42-28, in the paint.
Upper Iowa shot 23-for-54 (42.6%) from the floor, 6-for-22 (27.3%) from three and 13-for-17 (76.5%) from the free-throw line. Missouri- St. Louis made 23-of-56 (41.1%) of its shot attempts, 2-of-14 (14.3%) of its 3-pointers and 9-of-18 (50%) of its free throw attempts.
UIU hosts its final home game of the season on Saturday at 3 p.m. against Maryville (Mo.) (3-21, 1-15 GLVC). The Saints got their first GLVC win on Thursday, 71-67 over Lewis (Ill.) (4-19, 2-13 GLVC). Saturday is also Senior Day, with Austin Hilmer, Lewis, Trey Kriener and William Spielbauer being honored before the game.
