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Feb. 22, 2008
The Peacocks men's basketball team traveled to Crookston, Minnesota for the first game of the team's final regular season road weekend. Upper Iowa took the floor looking to move up in the conference standings and avoid a first round match up with one of the two national powers at the top of the NSIC. The Peacocks took a 46-40 lead at halftime thanks to 56% shooting from the field. The Golden Eagles shot 62% in the half but had two fewer three-point baskets. In the second half, the home team was able to whittle their way back to a tie with 48 seconds to play and sent the game to overtime with the second tie of the half, 77-77, with 3 seconds to play. Upper Iowa took control of the overtime period thanks to eight points from the hand of Jude Roybal. Roybal's pair of three-pointers gave UIU a six point lead that the visitors would not give up on their way to the 91-83 victory. The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 5-1 lead, but the Peacocks raced back with a Matt Lesan lay up and a Dan Bestul jumper to tie the game, 5-5, three minutes into the action. UM, Crookston continued to keep up their offensive pressure as they pushed their lead back out to six points, 15-9, with 12:23 on the clock. Upper Iowa used the next three minutes to erase the deficit and take a one point lead, 18-17, thanks to a 9-2 run. The run was sparked by four more points from Bestul. After the Golden Eagles reclaimed the lead, 24-23, the Peacocks rallied with a 6-0 run on back-to-back threes from Bestul and A.J. Adkins. Upper Iowa continued to play well and extended their lead to 12 points, 44-32, with just over two minutes to play in the half. The Golden Eagles used a fierce rally over the final minutes to close the halftime margin to just six points, 46-40. The two teams opened the second half with even play as the margin bounced between three and nine points. With 12:18 on the clock, a Golden Eagle lay up cut the margin to just three points, 58-55, but seconds later an Adkins' three pushed the lead back to six. The Golden Eagles continued to pick away at the lead and pulled to within one with eight minutes to play, 66-65. Upper Iowa turned back this rally with a pair of Lesan free throws and five points from Roybal. The home team would not go away though, and with two minutes to play, the Golden Eagles were back down two points after a pair of free throws, 75-73. UM, Crookston tied the game on their next possession, 75-75, with 48 seconds to play. Nick Kramer hit a lay up with 22 seconds left and it looked as if the Peacocks had held on to pull out the win. The Golden Eagles had a different plan as they sent the game into overtime hitting a lay up with 3 seconds to play and tying the game at 77-77. The teams played evenly through the first three minutes of overtime and the game remained tied, 81-81. Luckily for the Peacocks, Roybal knew it was his time to take over. The senior point guard scored the next eight points for UIU on a pair of trifectas and two free throws. The Roybal run gave Upper Iowa an 89-83 lead with 16 seconds to play. The Peacocks (8-18, 7-10 NSIC) held on for the 91-83 victory and won their seventh NSIC contest of the year. Lesan led the Peacocks in scoring and rebounding with 23 points including 13-13 shooting at the charity stripe and 5 rebounds. Roybal netted 18 points, handed out 5 assists and registered 5 steals in the game. Adkins scored 13, while Alex Kramer chipped in 12 points in the victory. The victory combined with MSU Moorhead's loss versus Wayne State puts Upper Iowa in a tie for sixth place with the Dragons of Moorhead heading into the final game of the season. The Peacocks will face the Beavers of Bemidji State tomorrow night in their final regular season game at 8 p.m. |
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