Fayette, Iowa – Down 19 points in the first half the St. Cloud State men's basketball team mounted a comeback that resulted in an exciting 97-94 win at Upper Iowa University Saturday in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) action.

St. Cloud State earned a weekend road split with the win and are 17-7 overall and 13-7 in the NSIC. Upper Iowa is 13-13 overall and 11-9 in league play. St. Cloud State remains tied for second in the NSIC North and are two game behind divisional leader Bemidji State. The Huskies close out regular season play at home next weekend against Minnesota Crookston on Friday and Bemidji State on Saturday.

Upper Iowa looked to be in control leading 36-16 with eight minutes left in the first half but the Huskies knocked that lead to eight , 50-42 by half time. Sophomore guard Jordan Poydras (De Pere, Wis.) scored 11 points in the Huskies 26-15 run and senior forward Matt Craggs (Kimberly, Wis.) added nine.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Poydras tied the game, 77-77, with a free throw and the Huskies took an 80-77 lead on a three-point basket by senior guard Damarius Cruz (Plymouth). A pair of three-point baskets by Josh Weeber of Upper Iowa gave the Peacocks an 83-82 lead over the Huskies with 4:46 on the clock. That would turn out to be the final lead of the game for the Peacocks as Cruz went three-of-three from the free throw line just :04 seconds later and the Huskies kept the lead.

The Huskies led 95-89 with :36 seconds on the clock but Upper Iowa made one last surge as David Smith went to the free throw line, made the first of two free throws, missed the second and the Peacocks came away with the rebound. They put the ball in Smith's hands and he scored on a layup and Upper Iowa trailed 95-92 with :25 seconds left. After Cruz missed two free throws, the Peacocks grabbed another rebound and Grant Lang scored with :10 seconds left and the Husky lead was 95-94. On the Huskies in-bound play, first year guard Scottie Stone (Melrose) made a play that kept the ball from going out of bounds and junior forward Connor Niehaus (Fremont, Neb.) made a layup with :03 seconds to go to secure the win.

Cruz led all players with a career high 28 points. He made four-of-seven three-point baskets and was ten-of-16 at the free throw line. He scored eight points in the final eight minutes of the game for the Huskies. He has made 21 three-point baskets over the last five games.

Poydras filled his line score with 21 points, six rebounds, six assists, four steals and eigh-of-nine free throws. Craggs dropped in 25 points and six rebounds.

Junior center James Fort (South Haven) also had a solid night with 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

St. Cloud State shot 54.1 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three-point range and out-rebounded Upper Iowa, 36-35. The Huskies tallied a season high nine blocked shots.

Upper Iowa was led by Jimmy Roth who scored 19 points and made four three-point baskets. Bo Pagel and David Smith each scored 16 points. Grant Lang and Smith had six rebounds a-piece and Pagel finished the game with five boards. The Peacocks shot 51.5 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three-point range.