FAYETTE, IOWA – Despite a double-double (16 points and 12 rebounds) from Teathloach Pal plus 16 points by Chase Grinde and 14 by Troy Houghton, (RV) University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball (20-6, 16-4 NSIC) had a six-game winning streak end in heart-breaking fashion at Upper Iowa (17-9, 14-6), 75-69, on Saturday (Feb. 15) in NSIC South Division play.

With the game tied at 69, the Peacocks scored the final six points of the game with guard Jareese Williams hitting the go-ahead basket and adding two free throws as USF was unable to answer the points in dropping their four league game.

The Cougars have already clinched a tie for the NSIC South Division, which is a program first. With two games to play, USF has a two-game lead in the NSIC South at 16-4. However to clinch the title outright, they need one more win or an Upper Iowa loss. At 20-6, they are tied for the overall lead in the NSIC with Northern State at 20-6. With two wins, the Cougars will win the NSIC and be the top seed in the league tourney as a result of a win earlier this year over NSU.

USF will return home to host city rival Augustana on Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m., at the Stewart Center. Then on Senior Day, Saturday, Feb. 22, USF will welcome Wayne State in the regular season finale.  

"We had a great start tonight and had everything clicking. But give Upper Iowa credit they are tough at home and they battled back," said USF Head Coach Chris Johnson. "It was a great basketball game with both teams trading baskets or making stops. Now, we have to rebound and get ready for two more tough, physical games at the Stewart Center," he said.

For the second straight night, Pal put up big numbers with a second straight double-double. Pal, who averaged 17 points and 13.5 rebounds in two games this weekend, made 8-of-10 field goals and added 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block as he had his eight double-double of the season and 14^th of his career. In the past two nights, Pal has hit 16-of-21 field goals for 76.2 percent and pulled down 27 rebounds or 13.5 a night. However, his play and that of Grinde and Houghton wasn't quite enough.

Upper Iowa, rallied from a 22-5 first half deficit to tie the game at halftime and outscored USF, 45-39 in the second half. They were led by guard Jareese Williams who had a game-high 30 points and six rebounds. He was 7-of-12 from the floor and made 6-of-8 from three point range as well as 10-of-10 in free throws.

As for Grinde, he came out on fire and scored 10 of his 16 points in the opening five minutes of the game. As a result, he had double-digits in points for an 11^th straight game. Houghton, who had five rebounds to go with 14 points, reached double-digits in points for a seventh time this season.

Both teams had solid offensive performances. USF was 27-of-51 from the field for 52.9 percent and that included tying a season-high with nine made triples on 21 attempts for 42.9 percent. However, foul shooting hurt the Cougars as they made just 6-of-16 for 37.5 percent. One of the pluses for USF was its ability to share the ball, leading to them tying a season-high with 17 assists.

The Peacocks were able to convert 24-of-53 field goals for 45.3 percent and they also had nine triples in 19 attempts for 47.4 percent. The difference was UIU's work at the foul stripe and with turnovers. They made 18-of-20 from the charity stripe for an advantage of 12 over the Cougars. And despite, a 34-23 edge in rebounds, the Cougars had 19 turnovers to just 12 for UIU.  
 
Scoring Summary –

Two baskets from Grinde and one by Pal opened the scoring for USF, which took a 6-0 lead at the 18:38 mark. Then Jack Thompson, who had six points, four rebounds and a team-high six assists, made a jumper at the 18:16 mark as USF took an 8-0 lead.

Shortly thereafter, Grinde followed with back-to-back threes as the Cougars led 16-0 with 16:14 to play. In that opening foray, USF made 7-of-8 from the field while UIU was 0-7 and just had a free throw in the opening five minutes.  The Cougars opened with 4-of-6 from three, including two from Grinde and led 22-11 with 9:49 to play in the first half.

UIU fought back within 23-17 after a Josh Carter offensive rebound and put back. With 4:55 to play, Houghton converted inside as the Cougars took a 25-19 lead. At the 2:42 mark, Houghton knocked in a three as USF led, 28-25. After UIU took the lead on a three by Jake Hilmer, Devin Green knocked in a jumper to tie the game at 30 with :58 seconds to play.

Early in the second half, UIU's Joe Smoldt hit a three as UIU took a 35-32 lead. USF retook the lead after Grinde and Pal scored for a 38-35 advantage and 15:15 to play in the second half.

With 14:32 left to go, Grinde converted inside as the Cougars built a 40-35 advantage. Then the two teams traded threes as Trevon Adams hit for USF and Williams for UIU. When Pal had his third dunk in two games, USF had a 48-44 advantage (10:04, 2^nd half).

After USF led 50-44, the Peacocks rallied to tie the game on foul shots from Williams. Houghton responded by scoring inside on a drive for a 58-56 lead. With 4:56 to play, Williams made another three as UIU captured a 61-59 lead. But, back came Houghton, whose two foul shots tied the game at 61.

After Williams hit yet another three, Thompson came through for USF with a game-tying three at the 2:38 mark. Down three, Houghton's made his second three of the game to tie it at 69 with 1:23 to play. However, USF was unable to add any more points in the final 83 seconds. Meanwhile, Williams was on fire and hit a jumper from the left side that was contested by Houghton for the lead. Then, Williams made a pair of foul shots which was followed by two from Hilmer as UIU took the South Division contest to draw within two games of the Cougars.