(Peru, Neb.) – A balanced scoring effort by the Wildcats of Baker University, which saw four players in double figures and another seven scoring, doomed the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat men's basketball team in action on the PSC campus.
 
Baker defeated the Bobcats 76-50 in Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) action.  Baker improved to 10-5 overall and 3-1 in the HAAC.  The Bobcats are 0-4 in the conference and 1-15 overall.
 
Game Action
 
As been the Bobcats' m.o. for the last several games, they fell behind early and have to work hard to get back in the game.   Peru State found themselves down 13-0 after the first six minutes before a Derrick Williams (St. Joseph, Mo.) free throw broke the ice. 
 
For the next four minutes the game went back and forth with the teams trading buckets, but PSC still found themselves down by 13, 24-11, with 9:13 left in the first half. 

 The Bobcats then went on a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to get within one at 24-23 with 6:02 remaining.  Connor Smith (Lincoln) hit two three pointers during part of the run that saw the 'Cats playing some intense defense. 
 
However, that one-point deficit would be as close as PSC would get in the game as the Wildcats outscored the Bobcats 17-4 to have a 41-28 lead at halftime.
 
In the second half, the Wildcats scored the opening bucket to take their largest lead of the game of 15 at 43-28.  Peru State answered with two buckets – one by Jacob Schaben (Defiance, Iowa) and one by Brett Pierce (St. Joseph, Mo.) to make it 43-32.  The 11-point deficit was the closest the Bobcats would be as Baker outscored the 'Cats 33-18 during the last part of the second half.
 
Team Statistics
 
Baker did outshoot Peru State from the field goal range, but PSC did find the mark at the charity stripe, something that had challenged them over the last few games.
 
The Wildcats shot 46% from the field making 29 of 63 attempts, including hitting a very respectable 43.8% from behind the arc draining seven of 16 tries.  PSC was 15 of 48 from the floor for 31.3% and only hit two of ten treys for 20% after having started the season shooting well from behind the arc.  The Bobcats were much better from the charity stripe making 18 of 23 for 78.3%. 
 
The taller Wildcats outrebounded PSC 39-32 and forced Bobcats into 29 turnovers while committing 22.  Baker also blocked four PSC shots while the Bobcats swatted away two Wildcat attempts.

GAME BOX SCORE
 
Individual Statistics
 
Only Pierce finished in double figures for the Bobcats putting up ten points on four of five shooting from the floor and two of three from the free throw line.  Smith added eight points, hitting two three's and both of his free throws.
 
Schaben was the team's leading rebounder grabbing seven caroms.  Schaben scored two points and blocked one shot.
 
KNCY Player of the Game Comments – Brett Pierce
 

Pierce was named the KNCY Player of the Game for his team-leading scoring effort and defensive energy and hustle.  Pierce said, “We played hard but just could not pull it out.  This is kind of the way our season has gone.  It is always tough when we come out flat and then have to try to come back.”  In addition, Pierce added when discussing his stature, “Being shorter, I have to work harder than everyone else and I have to bring the energy all of the time, especially since Eric was out.  I did get a bruised arm in the contest, but that won't change how I will practice tomorrow as we need to prepare for Missouri Valley on Saturday.”
 
Bobcat Head Coach Troy Katen's Comments
 
Bobcat head coach Troy Katen had some thoughts regarding the game.  Katen said, “Baker took it to us right away and it is my thought that our reputation right now is that teams want to come out and jump right out on us.  As coaches, we still have to give credit to our guys as they did come back and cut it back to three.  What we are trying to get our guys to understand is that we need the same intensity right at the beginning of the game because it takes so much effort to make those comebacks.”
 
Katen continued, “We still had some guys step up and play pretty well, especially being down two starters.  Their bigs did get the majority of their points as our bigs did not move as well on the defensive end to cause them any problems.  Obviously, we are still trying to click on all cylinders, one just two or three or four at a time.”  In conclusion, Katen noted, “We have many people tell us that we are going to just break out at some point.  We have found things that we have done very well, but we need to put it altogether and have a complete game.”
 
Next Games
 
The Bobcats will be on the road for their next two games.    On Saturday, both Bobcat teams will be travelling to Marshall, Mo., to take on the Missouri Valley College Vikings.  Presently, the Viking men are 5-9 overall and 1-2 in the HAAC.  Next Thursday, Peru State will be heading due south to Atchison, Kan., where they will be playing the Benedictine Ravens who are currently 7-7 and 2-1 in the conference.
 
On Saturday, Jan. 14, the Bobcats will be back at home and hosting the Avila University Eagles.  Presently, the Eagles are 9-6 overall and 2-2 in the HAAC.
 
All Bobcat games can be heard live on KNCY 103.1 Country Radio.  Bobcat fans can now listen to Bobcat basketball on their mobile devices by clicking on the Live Audio link on either the women or men's schedules at pscbobcats.com.  This is not an app, but rather a link through the internet.  In addition, all home games are now available via Livestream that can be accessed by linking to the Live Audio button on the same schedule.