FAYETTE, Iowa --- It proved to be a back and forth contest Thursday evening in Fayette, Iowa, but its was #15 Upper Iowa that was able to come as with the win as it topped Minnesota State 68-63.

With the loss, MSU drops to 15-9 on the season, including an 8-9 NSIC record. With the win, UIU improves to 23-4, including a 17-4 conference record.

The first half saw multiple lead changes as neither team led by more than seven points in the opening stanza. Upper Iowa jumped out to a seven point lead at 11-4 in the first three minutes of the game, only to see MSU respond with a 7-0 run to knot up the score at 11-11. 

By the midpoint of the half sophomore Quincy Anderson completed a three point play to bring the Mavericks within one of the Peacocks at 22-21 with 9:59 to go. MSU managed to build a four point lead at 34-30 with 3:40 remaining in the half, but UIU would record the last three baskets of the half to take a 36-34 lead into the locker room.

Anderson led all scorers with 14 points and five steals in the first half, while freshman Kyreese Willingham tallied six points.

Jake Hilmer and Lucas Duax paced the Peacocks in the first half with eight points each.

The scoring remained close early on the in the second half as neither team led by more than two possessions. With 14:00 to go in the game the Mavericks led 48-47, before putting together a 10-2 run over the next 4:30 minutes to take a nine-point lead at 58-49. The Peacocks then responded with a 10-1 run of their own to knot up the score at 59-59 with 5:20 to go.

Minnesota State managed to go back up by two points on two occasions, but Upper Iowa would score the final seven points of the game to claim the 68-63 win.

Anderson led all scorers with 22 points, to go along with six rebounds and a career-high six steals. Freshman Brady Williams added 12 points and eight rebounds also, while junior Kelby Kramer hauled in 10 rebounds. 

As a team, MSU shot 37.7% from the field. The Mavericks also hauled in 41 rebounds and recorded 12 steals.

Hilmer led the Peacocks with 17 points, while Duax notched 12 points. Nick Reid also recorded 10 rebounds. As a unit, UIU shot 43.1% from the field.

Minnesota State concludes its regular season schedule this Saturday as it hosts the Winona State Warriors at Taylor Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

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