(Peru, Neb.) – After taking an early 3-0 lead, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat men's basketball team quickly fell behind the Missouri Valley College Vikings and dropped their fifth straight Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) game 84-70.  The ballgame was in Marshall, Mo.
 
With the win, the Vikings improved to 2-2 in the HAAC and 6-9 overall.  Peru State fell to 1-16 on the year and 0-5 in the conference.
 
Game Action
 
Peru State took the first lead of the game as Brett Pierce (St. Joseph, Mo.) hitting a three-pointer on an assist by Jacob Schaben (Defiance, Iowa) on the opening possession.  That would be the only lead the Bobcats would enjoy in the first half as the Vikings went on a 7-0 run before the 'Cats would close within one 7-6 on a three pointer by Peter Knudson (Vanloese, Denmark) again on an assist by Schaben.
 
Mo Valley scored the next nine points taking a 16-6 lead at 14:42 before Schaben made a bucket to cut it to 16-8 just ten seconds later.  A 7-1 Viking run a 23-9 lead before Patrick Riley (Kansas City, Mo.) cut it to a 12-point deficit. 
 
Over the remaining 12 minutes of the half, the teams traded buckets with PSC outscoring Mo Valley 20-16 making it a ten-point lead for the Vikings at the half 39-29.
 
The Vikings opened the second half with a three-pointer matching their largest lead of the game of 13 at 42-29.  Connor Smith (Lincoln) countered with a jumper off a MVC turnover for PSC's first points of the second half making it 42-31 with just over a minute gone in the second half.
 
Over the next nine minutes, Mo Valley went on a 16-7 run extending their lead to 20 points at 58-38 with 11:21 left in the game.  Derrick Williams (St. Joseph, Mo.) and Andrew Staudt (Westminster, Colo.) each had buckets to get it back to a 16-point deficit in a 30-second period making it 58-42.
 
The rest of the game saw the teams trading buckets as the Vikings prevailed for the win.

 Team Statistics
 
The Bobcats actually shot better from the field than the Vikings, but made three fewer shots.  Peru State was 26 of 49 for 53.1%, their best percentage of the season, while Mo Valley made one-half of their 58 tries for 50%.  From behind the arc, PSC was six of 11 for 54.6% with the Vikings making 12 of 27 for 44.4%, both very respectable shooting percentages from long range.  The 'Cats continued to struggle from the free throw line making 12 of 23 for 52.2% while Mo Valley went 14 of 21 for 66.7%.
 
Mo Valley out-rebounded the Bobcats 35-26 and committed five fewer turnovers than PSC having 11 compared to PSC's 16.  Both teams blocked two shots.

GAME BOX SCORE
 
Individual Statistics
 
Knudson had a PSC career-high game as he finished with 16 points on six of seven shooting from the floor including going two of two from behind the arc.  Knudson added two free throws and had three rebounds.
 
Also finishing in double figures were Williams and Smith both with 12 points.  Williams added three rebounds with Smith grabbing two.  Others with three rebounds were Staudt, Schaben, and Richard Oppitz (Topeka, Kan.).
 
KNCY Player of the Game – Peter Knudson
 
For his team-high scoring and good defense, Knudson was recognized as the KNCY Player of the Game.  Knudson said, “I tried to really work hard on the defense, but was pleased with my offense.  We did cause them some trouble on defense as we tried to push it, but we were not as intense all of the time.  My teammates got me the ball on offense and I was able to capitalize.”  In conclusion, Knudson added, “We allowed them too many rebounds today and we need to work on that.  At this point, we need a break.  When we get the first win, that should get us over the hump.  We need to be consistent with how we play and we should get a win.”
 
Bobcat Head Coach Troy Katen Comments
 
“It was another tough loss and it sounds like a broken record, but we did not shoot free throws well and we just did not execute well enough to get the win,” noted Bobcat head coach Troy Katen when discussing the outcome of the game.  “We were pleased with Peter's play and how he managed the game for us tonight.  We have moved him around and did so today so it is good he can handle the changes,” Katen stated.
 
Katen concluded, “We just need to focus on getting ready for our upcoming games.  Benedictine has a strong team that was young last year.  It will be a good contest for us next week.”
 
Upcoming Games
 
Next week, the Bobcats will play two games.  On Thursday, Jan. 12, PSC will take on the Benedictine College Ravens with the game beginning at 7:30 p.m. or immediately following the women's contest.  That following Saturday, the 'Cats will host Avila University.  The game with the Eagles will begin at approximately 4 p.m. or following the women's match-up.
 
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.