SIOUX FALLS -- Chase Grinde scored 14 points and Teathloach Pal had 11 but the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (14-5, 10-3 NSIC) dropped a l 68-60 loss to Upper Iowa on Friday night (Jan. 24) at the Stewart Center.

The Cougars shot just 24.1 percent from the field in the second half.

USF had won its last five matchups with the Peacocks (12-7, 9-4 NSIC) by an average of more than 12 points. With the win, Upper Iowa now leads the all-time series with the Cougars, 8-7.     

Grinde paced the Cougars with 14 points as he made 6-of-11 field goals, including a pair of three-pointers.  Pal had 11 points and nine rebounds, while Austin Slater added eight points and 10 rebounds which included five on the offensive glass.

UIU guard Jake Hilmer  was a big reason why the Cougars suffered their second straight defeat. The 5-foot-10 freshman made 5-of-8 shots for a team-high 17 points. Among those field fields by Hilmer were four 3-pointers. He also had five of Upper Iowa's 10 assists.

Peacock sophomore Jareese Williams, who entered the game connecting at an NSIC-best 45.6% from long range, was held to 10 points on 3-for-7 shooting, with a pair of triples.  

Upper Iowa had the shooting advantage across the board, shooting 44.4 percent from the floor, 34.8 percent from 3-point range and 12-of-16 (75 percent) from the free throw line. 

The Cougars hit just 21-of-60 field goals for 35 percent and made 8-of-25 from 3-point range for 32 percent. In addition, USF was a combined 10-for-16 from the stripe for 62.5 percent.

Teathlcoach Pal got the Cougars on the board first, but the Peacocks quickly surged out to an 11-2 lead early in the first half. USF fought back and pulled within two, 18-16, with 10:08 to go after a Devin Green three-pointer.

A triple by Milan Surlic and a close-range bucket from Grinde put USF in front 33-30 at the 4:18 mark and the Cougars took a 39-38 lead into the half.

Offensive woes emerged for USF after the break as they started 2-for-10 from the floor, which allowed UIU to grab a 49-43 advantage early in the second half.   

A jumper from Grinde knotted the game at 52-all, but Upper Iowa responded with a 5-0 run to take a 57-52 lead with less than six minutes to play.

The Cougars trailed by only four points with two minutes left, but Hilmer was fouled on a made three-pointer and drained the ensuing free throw to extend Upper Iowa's lead to eight points.  

USF returns to its home court tomorrow as the Cougars will face off against Winona State (11-8, 8-5 NSIC). Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Stewart Center.