Maryville, Mo.- The Metropolitan State University of Denver men's basketball team (0-4) fell 68-64 to Upper Iowa (6-2) to wrap up its weekend road trip in Missouri.
 
MSU Denver got off to a strong start against Upper Iowa taking an early 9-2.  The Peacocks hit a three to cut the lead to four, but the Roadrunners did not let up, maintaining a solid lead for the following minutes.
 
An eight-point lead for the Roadrunners would be cut to three with just over five minutes remaining in the half, but senior Peter Møller (Værløse, Denmark/Falkonergårdens Gymnasium) scored eight points with two back-to-back threes to give the Roadrunners an 11-point lead, the largest of the half.
 
Although the Peacocks were able to cut the lead down to eight, junior Jaryn Taylor (Yucaipa, Calif./Yucaipa High School) hit another from downtown for the Roadrunners to hold on to their 11-point lead heading into half.
 
MSU Denver shot 42 percent from the field in the first half and 44 percent from behind the arch.  The Roadrunners out rebounded the Peacocks 25-13 in the first half. Møller led the Roadrunners at half with 10 points and six rebounds. 
 
The Peacocks entered the second half strong, firing a three the first possession of the half and just five minutes into the half they went on a 10-1 run to take cut the Roadrunners lead to one at 40-39.
 
The Peacocks would go on to tie the game up at 44 with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half.
 
The Roadrunners answered back scoring the next five points, however, the Peacocks had the upper hand in the following minutes going on another run to take their first lead of the game at 54-51.
 
A free throw from senior Bounama Keita (Saint-Louis, Senegal/Impact Basketball Academy (Fla.)) and another three from Møller would take the lead back for the Roadrunners with seven minutes remaining in the half.
 
The final minutes of the game went back and forth between the two sides with several lead changes.  The Roadrunners held a two-point lead at 63-61 with two minutes left, but a Peacock three-pointer stole the lead away.
 
The final minute proved to be exciting when the Roadrunners came within one with 51 seconds remaining on the clock. 
 
With 22 seconds remaining, the Roadrunners saw one more chance to tie the game, but were unable to get past the Peacocks. 
 
Upper Iowa took the win 68-64.
 
Taylor finished the game with a double double, scoring 12 points and posting 12 boards. Senior Cameron Williams (Omaha, Nebraska/Omaha South H.S.) had 16 points for the Roadrunners. Møller finished the game with 15 points and eight rebounds.
 
The Roadrunners will host Northwest Nazarene in its first home game next Friday, November 24 at the Auraria Event Center.