Box Score FAYETTE, Iowa. – Minot State University again had trouble with Upper Iowa in the second half.

The Beavers trailed by just two points at halftime in both match ups with UIU this season, and both times the Peacocks pushed to win in the final stanza.

Upper Iowa outscored Minot State 42-34 in the second half to take an 82-72 win in the first round of the NSIC / Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament Wednesday at the Dorman Gymnasium.

“Upper Iowa is a very solid basketball team,” said MISU head coach Matt Murken. “They are senior heavy and tough enough to keep executing until you break down. We showed glimpses of great basketball but were not consistent enough to get the win.”

Minot State finishes its first season under head coach Matt Murken with a 10-17 overall record. The Beavers were the NSIC North No. 5 seed in the tournament. UIU, the fourth seed in the NSIC South, improves to 19-10 overall.

The Beavers did some damage in the first half from beyond the arc and led much of the way until just before halftime. Minot State hit 5 of 8 3-pointers in the first half and finished with nine triples in the game.

But Upper Iowa shot 53 percent from the floor for the game to pull away. The Peacocks hit 26 of 49 shots from the floor, added seven 3-pointers and locked down the win with a stellar 27-for-31 effort on free throws.

The free throw shooting by UIU kept any comeback hope for the Beavers at bay. After Minot State cut the once 15-point lead to just eight on a steal and layup by Dominique McDonald (Fr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) with 3:53 to play, the Peacocks hit 10 of 10 down the stretch.

Sam Elgin led all scorers with 26 points to pace the Peacocks. He was joined in double figures by Jake Hughes with 18, Bo Pagel with 13 and Tucker Wentzien with 12. Wentzien added 11 rebounds for UIU.

Josh Johnson (Sr., F, Lufkin, Texas) scored 22 points and added five rebounds in his final game for the Beavers. Fellow senior Anthony Enriquez (G, Tacoma, Wash.) scored 11 points and added four rebounds and three assists, while E.J. Williams (Jr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) chipped in with 10 points and four boards.

“Josh and Anthony played a great game for us,” Murken said. “They helped build the foundation for what is going to be an exciting basketball program. We took great strides forward as a program this year. Now it's up to our players and coaches to find ways to become better.”