FAYETTE, Iowa - The University of Minnesota Crookston battled until the end but came up short 63-55 to Upper Iowa University Friday evening in Fayette, Iowa. The Golden Eagles would have three players score in double-figures led by 16 points and six boards from Lucas Reller (Sr., G, Lead, S.D./Management). The Golden Eagles fall to 6-13 (4-11 NSIC) with the loss, while Upper Iowa improves to 13-8 (9-6 NSIC).

In addition to Reller, Derrick Redd, Jr. (Jr., G, Menifee, Calif./Sports and Rec Management) added 12 points and five boards, while John Hughes (Jr., F, San Diego, Calif./Management) chipped in 10 points and five boards. UMC was 21-of-58 for 36.2 percent and 9-of-23 from three for 39.1 percent.

Upper Iowa was led by 11 points from Luke Lenhart off the bench. Bo Pagel added 10 points and five boards. The Peacocks were 23-of-55 for 41.8 percent from the field and 4-of-16 for 25.0 percent from beyond the arc.

The Golden Eagles played a strong first half and went into the break down just 24-23 to Upper Iowa. The Golden Eagles were 10-of-26 from the field for 38.5 percent. UMC looked to Reller in the first half with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field. West added six points on 3-of-4 shooting for the Golden Eagles.

Upper Iowa would look to four points apiece from Jimmy Roth, Pagel and Jarrod Gamble. The Peacocks were 10-of-32 for 31.3 percent from the field and 2-of-9 for 22.2 percent from beyond the arc.

The Golden Eagles quickly opened up the second half with a three from Redd as the took a 26-23 lead over the Peacocks. A Roth bucket would knot it up at 26-26 for Upper Iowa and the Peacocks would go on a 12-0 run to extend their lead to 36-26 with 16 minutes left in the game.  A Reller trey with 14:30 remaining would get the Golden Eagles back to within seven at 36-29. Reller would hit another three from the wing to pull UMC to within five (37-32) with 13:30 left.

The Golden Eagles would continue to drain threes as a Hughes trey pulled UMC within two (37-35) with 12:20 remaining and would knot things up on a Hughes put-back with 11:15 remaining in the game. However, Upper Iowa would counter with an old-fashioned three-point play from Pagel to take the lead back 40-37 with 11 minutes left in the game.

UMC would knot things back up at 40's on a Redd trey with 9:30 left in the game, but Lang quickly responded with a basket of his own for Upper Iowa to get the lead back out to 42-40 in favor of the Peacocks. He would follow up with a three from the top of the arc and lay-in to get Upper Iowa out to a 47-40 advantage with seven minutes remaining in the game.

Upper Iowa would hold their lead for several minutes, but Reller would come up with another pivotal three to get UMC to within four (53-49) with 3:43 remaining. A  Lenhart bucket would get Upper Iowa out to a 55-49 lead with three minutes remaining. Lenhart and Jarrod Gamble would hit 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to extend the Peacock lead to 57-49 with 1:11 left in the game.

Redd would hit a put-back to get UMC to within 57-51 with a minute left, but a quick Josh Weeber basket would give Upper Iowa a 59-51 lead. In need of a big bucket, Sam Howell (Sr., G, Seattle, Wash./Sports and Rec Management) would hit a three to keep UMC in the game and cut the lead to 59-54.

Lenhart would hit 1-of-2 to give Upper Iowa a 60-54 lead with 43.3 second left in the game. The Golden Eagles would miss a three opportunity on their end but Roth would miss both of his free throw shots. However, UMC would miss their chance at the basket. Pagel would ice the game hitting both of his shots for Upper Iowa to make the game 62-54 with 19.8 seconds left. Upper Iowa would come away with the 63-55 win.

The Golden Eagles will take on Winona State University at 6 p.m. Sat., Jan. 31 in Winona, Minn.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern
Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).