Box Score

FAYETTE, Iowa – After waiting two days to kick off the 2011 portion of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference basketball slate, the Upper Iowa University Peacocks rallied past Northern State University for a low-scoring 58-57 win Monday night in NSIC men's basketball action.

Originally scheduled for Jan. 1, Monday's contest was a postponement due to widespread winter weather conditions.  The Wolves fell to 5-6 overall and 1-6 in conference play with their sixth straight loss.  UIU, meanwhile, improved to 4-6 on the season and an even 3-3 in the loop.

One of the top scoring teams in the conference, the Wolves were held to a season-low 57 points, but still held the upper hand throughout much of the night.  NSU held a 22-18 edge heading into the break and pushed that lead to eight to open the second half.

The Peacocks proved persistent, however, and slowly chipped away at the NSU advantage.  UIU took their first lead at the 6:13 mark on a Jake Hughes bucket.  The Wolves snatched it right back on four straight free throws from Brett Newton – in his first action of the season – and redshirt freshman Tydan Storrusten.

NSU stayed on top until the 15-second mark when UIU's Mike Lafrenz hit a jumper in the lane to make it a 56-55 Peacock lead.  Another pair of free throws, this time from junior David Lane, put the Wolves back on top with seven seconds to go, but UIU's Dan Bestul hit the go-ahead jumper with just two seconds on the clock to steal the win away from the Wolves.

Sophomore forward Collin Pryor finished with 20 points and six rebounds to lead the Wolves in both categories.  Lane added 10 points and six assists, while Newton went 7-for-8 from the free throw line and finished with nine points in his 2010-11 debut.

Bestul and Lafrenz finished with 13 points apiece to pace the Peacocks, while Tucker Wentzien added 10.  The Wolves held UIU senior Matt Lesan to just two points on the night, both of which came from the free throw line.

The Wolves are back on the road to take on #20 Winona State tomorrow night.  Game time is set for 8 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's contest.