FAYETTE, Iowa – Upper Iowa's Jake Hilmer would net 41 points, including seven three-pointers as the Peacocks knocked off the 15th-ranked Dragons 84-78.
Behind a hot start from
Lorenzo McGhee, the Dragons were able to jump out to an early 11-4 lead. The senior netted eight of MSUM's 11 points early. The Peacocks would work their way back into the contest before the first media timeout with the Dragons leading 13-10 with just under 14 minutes remaining in the first half.
Gavin Baumgartner pitched in an early five points for MSUM as well.
As Upper Iowa took command of the scoreboard midway through the half, it was McGhee who continued to pace the Dragons. Down two, McGhee would go on an individual 7-0 run to put MSUM up 21-17. McGhee shot nine of 10 to begin the game, scoring 22 points in the first half alone.
As the half dwindled, Upper Iowa would continue to keep pace with the Dragons, trailing by just one point. The Peacocks would close the half making three of their final four field goals to pull even with the Dragons 40-40. MSUM shot one of four in that same stretch, with a 45.7 percent mark for the half.
Jacob Beeninga added 10 points for the Dragons in the half.
The Peacocks would jump all over MSUM in the second half, building a 13-point lead with just under 10 minutes left. Much of this came thanks to Upper Iowa's stellar guard Jake Hilmer, who netted 35 points to that point in the game, including a seven of eight mark from three-point range.
MSUM would fight back, cutting the Peacock lead to five points with just under six minutes remaining. A
Gavin Baumgartner three would erupt the Dragon bench as MSUM went on a 10-2 run in that span.
While MSUM would put up a valiant effort, it would turn out to not be enough. Upper Iowa would hang on to win 84-78. McGhee would set a new career-high with 31 points for the Dragons
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MSUM (17-4, 12-3 NSIC) heads back into Minnesota tonight ahead of a 3:30 p.m. game at Winona State tomorrow afternoon.
