CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team was defeated 74-63 by No. 19 Upper Iowa University Friday, January 7. The Golden Eagles played the Peacocks tough throughout, but Upper Iowa used a 14-0 run in the first half to help secure the victory and fended off UMN Crookston down the stretch. The Golden Eagles were able to slow down the Upper Iowa offense in spurts on Friday, but small runs throughout Friday's tilt led the Peacocks to victory.
The Golden Eagles dropped to 4-11 (1-8 NSIC) with Friday's loss. Upper Iowa improved to 13-2 (7-2 NSIC) with the victory.
Minnesota Crookston shot 25-of-66 from the field for 37.9 percent. The Golden Eagles were 6-of-20 from beyond the arc for 30.0 percent. UMN Crookston was 7-of-10 from the foul line for 70.0 percent.
The Golden Eagles were led by
Brian Sitzmann (R-Sr., G, Prior Lake, Minn.) with 16 points and six rebounds.
Leonard Dixon (R-Jr., F, Damascus, Ore.) added 13 points and eight boards.
Zach Westphal (Sr., G, West Fargo, N.D.) chipped in nine points and eight boards.
Nathaniel Powell (R-So., F/C, Nottingham, England) chipped in eight points, while
Ron Kirk, Jr. (Fr, G, Milwaukee, Wis.) had a season-high seven points.
Upper Iowa shot 28-of-74 from the field for 37.8 percent. The Golden Eagles held the Peacocks to their third-lowest scoring total of the season. The Peacocks were also limited to just 3-of-21 from beyond the arc for 14.3 percent. Upper Iowa shot 15-of-21 for 71.4 percent from the foul line. Upper Iowa won the rebounding edge 48-44 guided by 15 offensive rebounds. The Peacocks had 17 second-chance points for the night.
The Peacocks were led by a double-double of 15 points and 10 boards from Nick Reid. Jake Hilmer had 17 points and six boards, including four offensive rebounds. Lucas Duax added 16 points and six rebounds. Max Duax came off the bench for 11 points and five boards.
Upper Iowa jumped out to an 11-5 advantage after a fast-break bucket from Lucas Duax with 15:12 left in the first stanza. Minnesota Crookston countered with a 7-0 run as a Powell jumper put the Golden Eagles ahead 12-11. Upper Iowa pushed back out to a 13-12 lead. However, UMN Crookston came back with a 5-0 run propelled by five points from Dixon to give the Golden Eagles a 17-13 lead. Upper Iowa responded and knotted the game up 17-17 with 10:20 left in the half. Minnesota Crookston responded with a 4-0 run as a pair of Powell free throws gave the Golden Eagles a 21-17 advantage. That is when Upper Iowa countered with a 14-0 run taking a 31-21 lead on a Max Duax bucket with 1:39 left in the first half. The Peacocks went into the locker room with a 33-25 lead.
The Golden Eagles looked to make up ground as UMN Crookston used a 4-0 run to pull within 33-29 on a pair of Sitzmann free throws. The Golden Eagles kept the game within five points (42-37) following a Dixon jumper with 14:52 left in the tilt. The Peacocks would push their lead out to 14 (58-44) after a basket from Max Duax. UMN Crookston were able to trim the deficit to 64-55 following a Sitzmann trey. Upper Iowa was able to close out the game and take the victory 74-63.
Minnesota Crookston will face Winona State University Saturday, January 8 at 3:30 p.m. at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn.
