(Peru, Neb.) – It was a game of big swings between the home-standing Baker University Wildcats and the visiting Peru State College (PSC) Bobcats on Thursday night.   The big swing by Baker at the end of the game gave them the win 65-61 over the Bobcats.
 
With the win, the Wildcats evened their record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference at 2-2 while the 'Cats are winless at 0-4.  Overall, Baker is 9-5 while PSC fell to 6-8.
 
Game Action
 
Baker scored the first five points of the game before Nate Bohy (Mesa, Ariz.) hit one of two free throws to put Peru State on the board with just over 16 minutes left in the first half.  The Wildcats would score another five points before Taylor Christensen (Phoenix, Ariz.) grabbed a defensive rebound and then made a bucket at the other end of the court to make it 10-3 Baker at the 14:37 mark. 
 
The Wildcats would stretch their lead to 12 at 29-17 with just over three minutes left in the first 20 minutes.  Before halftime, PSC cut the lead to eight, trailing 31-23.
 
In the second half, Peru State came out strong and tied it at 35-35 in just less than three minutes gone.  After being tied again at 37-37, the Bobcats went on a 15-2 run to build a 13-point lead at 52-39 with just over ten minutes left in the game.
 
The Wildcats would slowly chip away at the lead and eventually tied it at 55-55 with 4:56 remaining before Kody Kirkpatrick (Loami, Ill.) drained a three-pointer to give the lead back to PSC. 
 
Peru State's last lead would be 61-59 with 3:02 left before Baker tied it up and then went on to win 65-61.
 
Team Statistics
 
Baker outshot the Bobcats from the floor as they made 25 of 55 for 45.5% while PSC made 20 of 50 for 40%.  The Wildcats connected on five of 15 three-pointers for 33.3% while PSC made seven of 20 for 35%, all in the second half.  Peru State did do better at the charity stripe than Baker as they hit 14 of 19 for 73.7% while the Wildcats made 10 of 18 for 55.6%.
 
Peru State outrebounded the Wildcats 39-28, but committed more turnovers, 22-16.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Bohy had a game-high 25 points while dishing out a team-high three assists and nabbing two steals.  Also finishing in double figures for Peru State was Richard Oppitz (Topeka, Kan.).  Oppitz had ten points to go along with his game-high 13 rebounds.    Oppitz and Bohy each blocked one shot.

BAKER BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
On Saturday, the Bobcats will host the Missouri Valley College Vikings starting at approximately 4 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center or 25 minutes following the women's game. 
 
Monday, Jan. 7, the Grace University Royals will be the opponents with game time scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m.
 
Then, on Thursday, Jan. 10, PSC will host the Benedictine College Ravens with the game scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 
The Missouri Valley and Benedictine games are HAAC competition while Grace is a non-conference matchup.