FAYETTE, Iowa – Upper Iowa pulled away from a tight game in the final five minutes to earn a 66-57 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in NSIC men's basketball on Saturday night at Dorman Gym.
 
SMSU, which drops to 5-4 overall, 2-3 NSIC, used a Dunwa Omot 3-pointer with 6:34 left in the game to tie the game at 52, but UIU's Nick Reid broke the tie with a clutch 3-pointer. Following a jumper by SMSU's Jake Phipps to make the score 55-54, UIU scored seven straight points and closed the game on an 11-3 run to seal the victory.
 
Anthony Costello and Omot led the Mustangs with 14 points, while Jakob Braaten added 10 points to round out SMSU's double-digit scorers. SMSU, which held a 41-29 rebound advantage, was led Mason Lund and Omot, who both collected a team-high rebounds.
 
SMSU shot 41 percent (23 of 56) from the field, while making 6 of 23 from 3-point range. The Mustangs committed 19 turnovers, while the Peacocks had just eight turnovers. UIU held a 16-7 scoring advantage in points off turnovers.
 
UIU, which improves to 7-4 overall, 4-1 NSIC, shot just 38 percent (24 of 63) but made 10 3-pointers and outscored the Mustangs 15-6 in fastbreak points. Lucas Duax made 11 of 19 shots with four 3-pointers to finish with 28 points to pace the Peacocks.
 
UIU started the game strong scoring the first eight points in the opening two and a half minutes before SMSU's Costello would finally break the Mustang scoreless streak with a jumper and 3-pointer.
 
UIU would maintain the lead and hold a 26-19 with 8:43 left in the half before SMSU rallied to take its first lead of the game. Majok Majouk started an 8-0 run by the Mustangs with a jumper and was followed by field goals by Omot, Costello and Cliff McCray to put SMSU in the lead at 27-26 with six minutes remaining.
 
UIU would rally to close the half on a 10-5 run to build a 36-32 halftime advantage.
 
SMSU shot 47 percent (14 of 30) from the field with three 3-pointers in the first half, while UIU made five 3-pointers and shot 50 percent overall.
 
UIU held a 47-40 lead with 13 minutes left in the game before a pair of free throws by Costello, a layup by McCray and a 3-pointer by Mason Lund pulled SMSU to within 49-47 at the 9:41 mark.
 
Jake Hilmer countered with a big 3-pointer for UIU before SMSU rallied to tie the game behind a layup by Phipps and a 3-pointer by Omot before the decisive UIU run.  
 
SMSU returns home next Friday, Dec. 16, taking on Concordia-St. Paul with game time slated for 7:30 p.m.