The University of Minnesota Duluth and Upper Iowa University almost fell victim to a deflated ball scandal at Romano Gymnasium on Friday night, but after requests from each bench, the referees switched the ball at the first media timeout. Unfortunately for UMD, the Peacocks shot 50 percent from three point range the rest of the way, holding off a late comeback by the Bulldogs to win 68-64 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.

UMD (11-12, 8-9 NSIC) made its road a little rougher towards a home playoff but still controls its owns hopes for a top seed in the North Division, while Upper Iowa (14-9, 10-7 NSIC) took a step towards securing itself a top-four seed in the South

HIGHLIGHTS
• Junior forward Brendon Pineda scored 15 points to lead UMD in scoring, but took a back seat in the second half as senior center Brett Ervin scored 10 points after the break to finish with 14. Junior guards Taylor Lavery and Pierre Newton each finished with 12 points for the Bulldogs, while senior Reece Zoelle added nine off the bench. Pineda and Lavery tied for the team lead with nine rebounds, while Newton added seven.
• Sophomore guards Jimmy Roth and Luke Lenhart each netted a trio of three-pointers, finishing with 15 points a piece on the night to lead Upper Iowa. Lenhart finished 6-of-7 off the bench, grabbing three rebounds. Senior guard Bo Pagel led the Peacocks with six boards on the night. Ten of Upper Iowa 11 players to hit the floor had at least on a point on the night.
 

UMD held a 6-5 lead at the first media timeout as the referees switched the ball, and the two teams traded scores before Upper Iowa began its onslaught of three, scoring two in a row to pull ahead by five and eventually another to lead by eight. The Bulldogs scratched back, settling for points in the paint and defense to cut the Peacocks' lead to a pair and eventually knot the game at 24-all with 5:46 remaining in the game. Upper Iowa hit another three to go up 32-28 with moments left in the half, but sophomore forward Charles Benson trimmed the lead to tie with his lone bucket of the game. The Bulldogs shot 1-of-10 from three-point range and 10-of-18 from inside the arc in the first half, while Upper Iowa went 5-of-10 from range and 44.8 percent overall.

The Peacocks pulled ahead by six quickly out of the break and continued to rain threes om UMD, 6-of-12 for the half to finish with 11 on the night. The Bulldogs were out-gunned on the bench as well, with Upper Iowa reserves netting 37 points to UMD's 11. Later in the half, the Bulldogs would come back to take a lead at 48-47 and elead by three moments later thanks to a steal by Newton and a bucket by Lavery. The teams traded threes before Upper Iowa opened up an eight-point run to lead by five with 44:54 remaining and held the Bulldogs at bay the rest of the game. UMD finished the game shooting 41.7 percent, but just 2-of-13 from three-point range.
 

The Bulldogs continue at Romano Gym for three of their final five games, including Saturday night when UMD plays host to Winona State University in another NSIC outing. Opening tip is set for 6:00 p.m., following the women's contest.