(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State Bobcat men's basketball team put their post-season tournament hopes in jeopardy on Saturday, dropping an 82-80 overtime contest, to the visiting Avila University Eagles.
 
With the win, Avila moved into a three-way tie for seventh with the Bobcats, along with Missouri Valley College, all with 4-12 marks in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).  The Eagles, however, currently have the seventh spot over Peru State, having swept the Bobcats.  But, the Eagles have lost to Mo Valley earlier and the teams are scheduled to play on Thursday.  The Bobcats have the tiebreaker over Missouri Valley, as Peru State swept the season series over the Vikings.  So, it comes down to the final two games of the regular season to determine who will get the final two spots in the HAAC post-season tournament.
 
Overall, Avila improved to 9-17 while Peru State fell to 11-16.  
Game Action
 
The Bobcats jumped to an early 6-0 lead in the game.  Andre Wells (Colorado Springs) hit a bucket in the paint on an assist from Nate Bohy (Mesa, Ariz.).  Bohy then made two free throws, which was followed by a bucket by Derrick Williams (St. Joseph, Mo.), on another Bohy assist. 
 
Peru State stretched its lead to 10-3 after Kody Kirkpatrick (Loami, Ill.) hit a pair of free throws at the 13:14 mark in the first half.  After that, Avila went on a 16-0 run to lead 19-10 and did so over the course of five minutes.  Bohy stemmed the rally hitting a three-pointer at the 8:18 point in the first 20 minutes, but Avila countered with a three.  At halftime, the Eagles led 38-31.
 
In the second half, Avila scored the first bucket, making it 40-31 before PSC went on an 11-0 run to take the lead at 42-40.  Williams knotted the game with an old-fashioned three-pointer with 17:27 left in the game.    Williams had another opportunity for another three-point play as he hit a bucket, but could not convert on the free throw, putting Peru State on top 42-40 with 16:23 remaining.
 
The Eagles hit a three-pointer to regain the lead at 43-42 and stretched their lead to six at 52-46 with 12:41 left in the game.  Peru State managed to come back and tie it at 56-56 as Jarvis Green-Smoot (Norfolk) hit a bucket and was fouled.  Green-Smoot did not hit the free throw, but an offensive rebound by Richard Oppitz (Topeka, Kan.) gave Kirkpatrick an opportunity to hit a three-pointer to put Peru State up 59-56 with 7:45 left. 
 
With 4:27 left, the 'Cats had built a nine-point lead at 69-60.  After that time, Avila rallied to finish regulation with a 13-4 run, forcing overtime.
 
The 'Cats did get the first bucket in overtime as Bohy fed Williams who hit a bucket in the paint.  The rest of the overtime went back and forth with Avila hitting a bucket with two seconds on the clock to win 82-80.  
Team Statistics
 
Peru State had one of their better nights shooting, hitting 30 of 58 from the floor for 51.7%.   The Bobcats made four of ten from three-point range for 40%.  The Bobcats hit all ten of their free throws in the first half, but finished the game making 16 of 22 for 72.7%.
 
The Eagles took 14 more shots than Peru State, connecting on 30 of 72 for 41.7%.  Avila made four of ten three-pointers for 40% while going 18 of 29 from the charity stripe for 62.1%.
 
Avila outrebounded Peru State 37-25 and committed less turnovers, 14, compared to the Bobcats' 21. 
 
Individual Statistics
 
Williams had a game-high 31 points on 12 of 19 shooting from the floor and seven of 11 at the free throw line. 
 
Kirkpatrick regained his shooting form hitting six of 13 from the floor, including three of five from behind the arc, to finish with 22 points. 
 
Also in double figures was Bohy, who added 11 points.  Bohy dished out a team-high four assists.

AVILA BOX SCORE
 
Record Watch
 
Williams has moved into fourth in the Top 10 career scoring leaders chart as he now has 1,411 points.  Williams moved ahead of Ron Snodgrass who finished his career with 1,369 points playing from 1964-67.   
Oppitz moved into second all-time on the career blocked shots list with 79, behind current teammate Wells who currently has 96.  In addition, Jake Schaben (Defiance, Iowa) has moved into a tie for ninth on the blocked shots chart with 45, tying him with Robert Nicholas who played from 1985-87.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will be traveling Thursday to Lamoni, Iowa, to take on the Graceland University YellowJackets with the game scheduled to start at approximately 7:30 p.m.   Both teams will be fighting for post-season play, as Graceland is currently one game behind the three teams tied for seventh with a 3-13 conference mark.  Overall, the 'Jackets are 3-13.
 
Peru State's final regular season and home game will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23, when the Evangel University Crusaders visit the confines of the Al Wheeler Activity Center (AWAC).   It will be Senior Day and “Pack the 'WAC” Day at Peru State.  Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. or approximately 25 minutes following the women's game.  Evangel is currently ranked 11^th in the NAIA Division I and are 14-2 in the HAAC and 21-5 overall.
 
At halftime of the women's game, the PSC cheerleaders and their youth cheer camp participants will perform.  During halftime of the men's game, the PSC cheerleaders themselves will perform.