FAYETTE, IOWA – Charles Ward tied a career-high with 28 points and led a second half rally by the University of Sioux Falls men's basketball team (7-9, 4-6 NSIC) that fell short in a 100-87 setback to Upper Iowa (9-6, 5-4 NSIC) on Saturday night in an NSIC South battle at Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette, Iowa.
The 87 points scored by the Cougars was their second highest total of the year, falling one point short of the 88, which they recorded in a win (88-83 OT) over Missouri Southern State early in the season.
As for Ward, he hit 11-of-17 field goals and 6-of-6 free throws to tie a career best 28 points he set in a 103-101 loss to Minnesota State on Feb. 21, 2014 at the Stewart Center. For Ward, he had a season high as he reached double digit points for the 32nd time in his career, and the 21st straight game. Ward scored 20 points for the sixth time this year and 12th time in his career.
USF, which trailed by 24 points early in the second half, rallied to within eight on several occasions in the final three minutes of play. In fact, USF trailed 91-83 with 1:12 to play after sophomore point guard Freddie Young, who had 10 points off the bench, hit a free throw. However, Upper Iowa, which shot a blistering 69.6 percent in the first half, was able to convert free throws down the stretch to hold off Sioux Falls. UIU, which led 52-36 at halftime, scored the most points off USF this season as they reached 100 points for a second straight night.
“We just had to big a deficit to overcome,” said USF head men's basketball coach Chris Johnson. “You have to hand it to our guys, they really battled in the second half. They have opportunities to move closer than eight points. We fought to the end, which this team continues to do,” he said.
Aside from Ward and Young, junior forward Jordan Stotts scored in double digits with 10 points and four rebounds while redshirt freshman Tom Aase had eight points. USF hit 32-of-65 from the field for 50 percent but were just 2-of-16 from three-point range for 12.5 percent. The Cougars had a solid outing at the foul line at 70 percent on 21-of-30 shooting.
Leading the way for the Peacocks was Bo Pagel, who scored 23 points, including 14-of-16 from the foul line. Grant Lang, who hit 5-of-8 from three-point range, had 21 points while Jordan Hay added 16 points and eight rebounds.
Overall, Upper Iowa made 27-of-52 field goals for 51.9 percent. At the foul line and three-point line, the Peacocks held a huge edge over USF. The Peacocks hit 12-of-24 from distance for 50 percent and they knocked down 33-of-40 free throws for 82.5 percent. USF won the rebound battle, 34-29 and also had a decided edge in points in the paint with a 44-22 margin.
The Peacocks used a blistering half of shooting to take a double digit lead over USF at half. Usually a team that wins the battle inside has an edge but not tonight. While USF had a 26-12 advantage in points in the paint, the Peacocks were able to build their lead on the strength of three-point shooting. Upper Iowa hit 69.6 percent from the floor on 16-of-23 shooting. They were better from distance by knocking home 9-of-12 three-pointers for 75 percent. Lang had 12, including 4-of-4 from three-point range, to lead the Peacocks. For the Cougars, Ward had 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting. As a team USF hit 42.9 percent on 15-of-35 shooting. However, they were 0-6 from distance. The Peacocks also got to the foul stripe more often, hitting 11-of-15 while USF was 6-of-9.
Early on the teams traded baskets as the Cougars led 11-10 with 15:59 to play after a score inside from Stotts. But the early trend favored Upper Iowa, who hit their first six shots from the field and built a 24-14 edge at the 11:37 mark. USF responded, cutting the Peacocks lead to 24-18 about a minute later. But then, Upper Iowa closed the half on a 28-18 run for a 52-36 lead at the break. IUI's biggest lead was 50-31 with 1:53 to play.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Upper Iowa continued their offensive onslaught as a three pointer by Josh Weeber with 18:56 to play in the game provided the Peacocks with a 60-36 lead. UIU maintained the 20-point edge until the 11 minute mark when the Cougars began their comeback.
Mack Johnson, who had six points, and Ward both scored on drives to the basket as USF cut the lead to 73-58 with 10:11 to play. Later, Ward had a steal and a basket with 4:02 left to draw the Cougars within 81-70, capping a 34-21 run over a 14:52 period.
Stotts hit a pair of free throws with 2:13 to play as the Cougars pulled within eight at 85-77. USF continued to battle and had opportunities to cut the lead further but were unable to convert. After Aase made a three-point play, the Cougars were within 93-85 with 44 seconds left but could draw no closer. The Peacocks knocked down 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute as they defeated USF for the third straight time and swept the season series (82-66 at USF on Dec. 5, 2014).
USF returns home next week to host NSIC North leader Minnesota Moorhead and Northern State on Jan. 16-17 at the Stewart Center.
