(Peru, Neb.) – After hanging with the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) preseason favorite for the first half, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat men's basketball team soon found out in the second half why the MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers were picked number one. 
 
The Pioneers topped the Bobcats 93-71 to get their first win in the HAAC opener for both teams.  Overall, MNU is now 6-5 and 1-0 in the HAAC while Peru State fell to 0-1 in the conference and 1-10 for the year.
 
The Bobcats got on board first with a Derrick Williams (St. Joseph, Mo.) jumper at the 19:39 mark.  Ten seconds later, MNU tied it up before the 'Cats got one free throw to take their final lead of the game as that lead, too, was short-lived as the Pioneers hit another jumper to make it 4-3 with 18:27 left in the half. 
 
MNU stretched their lead to 16-7 at the 14:10 mark, but the Bobcats went on a 7-2 run to make it 18-14 with just less than 11 minutes remaining in the half.  Eventually, PSC did knot it up at 21-21 with 8:46 left before the Pioneers had a 10-2 run to make it 31-23 with 4:50 left in the first period.  It went back and forth during the rest of the first half, but MidAmerica maintained an eight-point lead at the half, 40-32. 
 
The Pioneers came out on fire in the second half and opened up with a 21-6 outburst to take a commanding 61-38 lead with 14:26 left in the game.  The rest of the game was back and forth, as PSC was never ever able to cut much into the lead with the Pioneers eventually winning by 22.
 
Team Statistics
 
The Pioneers shot 58.5% from the floor and were almost as good from behind the arc finishing at 54.5%.  From the floor, MNU made 38 of 65 tries and was six of 11 from three-point range.  At the free throw line, MidAmerica was 11 of 14 for 78.6%. 
 
The Bobcats did shoot better than they did on Tuesday night against Park, but it was not enough to match up with MNU.  The 'Cats made 26 of 56 shots from the floor for 46.4% and did shoot much better from behind the arc than their previous game making four of 12 for 33.3%.  At the charity stripe, PSC was 15 of 22 canning 68.2%.
 
MNU kept the Bobcats off the boards as the Pioneers nearly doubled the 'Cats grabbing 40 caroms compared to PSC's 21.  Turnovers were nearly equal as PSC committed 20 with MNU making 23 errors.  Steals were similar with MNU seizing 11 and PSC having eight.

Game Box Score
 
Individual Statistics
 
Two 'Cats finished in double figures for the game.  Williams had 16 points to lead PSC with Kevin Tighe (North Platte) adding 14.  Williams was seven of 15 from the floor and hit both free throws.  Tighe made five of nine tries, including two of four three pointers.  Both Williams and Tighe were two for two at the charity stripe.  Richard Oppitz (Topeka, Kan.) and David Farmer (Blue Springs, Mo.) each had three boards.
 
KNCY Player of the Game
 
Playing his most significant minutes of the year, Jacob Schaben (Defiance, Iowa) was the KNCY Player of the Game.  Schaben finished with four points having made both of his field goal tries and added two rebounds in his 11 plus minutes on the floor.  Schaben said on the radio, “We knew we were going to get to play a great team, the number one preseason team in the conference.  We came out and played with them in the first half, but in the second half, they came out quicker than lightning and we blinked.  MNU ran things to perfection and that is what we need to do.  They clicked in the second half.”
 
Bobcat Head Troy Katen Comments
 
Katen wanted his team to know that the game should be used as a learning experience.  Katen stated, “They (MNU) know how to play and that is why they have a national title.”  Regarding the game, Katen added, “MNU came out the second half and did a great job playing defense.  When guys came off their bench, the intensity did not drop off.  They all sealed on rebounds and we could not get to the board.”  Katen concluded, “We did not execute and then we got in a hurry, so it frustrated us and we took some quick shots.  We did play without a couple of guys and had some get sick during the game and after, but we have to be ready to handle that.”
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State comes right back to play another HAAC foe on Saturday, Dec. 3.  The Central Methodist University Eagles will visit the Al Wheeler Activity Center with the game scheduled to begin at approximately 4 p.m. following the women's game.
 
On Saturday, Dec. 10, the Bobcats will be back in HAAC action before finals week begins when they travel to Canton, Mo., to take on the Wildcats at Culver-Stockton College.  The men's game will follow the women's game at approximately 4 p.m.