(Peru, Neb.) – When a team hits 52% of their three-point tries, it usually makes it tough on the opponents. That is what the home-standing Missouri Valley College Vikings did when they hosted Peru State on Saturday as the Vikings hit 12 of 23 three-point tries on their way to a 79-61 victory over the 'Cats in Marshall, Mo.

The 61 point total for Peru State was their lowest offensive output of the season as the Bobcats dropped to 6-8 overall and 2-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). Mo Valley improved to 10-6 overall and 3-2 in the HAAC.

Game Action

The Vikings put up nine points in under two minutes before the Bobcats would get on the board with one of two free throws by Taylor Christensen (Phoenix). Mo Valley would score another bucket, making it 1-1 with 17:04 left in the first half before Jesse Jones (Edmond, Okla.) hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Kody Kirkpatrick (Loami, Ill.).

Buckets by Christensen and Jones would cut the lead to 11-7 with 15:04 left in the half. A Viking hoop was countered by a two-pointer by Jarvis Green-Smoot (Norfolk), making it 13-9 with 13:46 remaining in the first 20 minutes.
Missouri Valley countered with one of their 12 treys, but Bohy hit a field goal off a turnover to cut it to 16-11 with 12:01 to go.

With 10:15 left in the first half, the Vikings led by eight at 22-14. Bohy hit a pair of free throws and then James Pierce (Omaha) stole the ball from a Viking and laid it in making it 22-18. Pierce had another steal which resulted in a Bohy bucket getting the 'Cats within two at 22-20 with 9:17 left.

Missouri Valley would quickly stretch the lead back to nine at 31-22 and then led again by the same margin at 35-26 with 3:45 to go. A basket by Justin Jones (Edmond, Okla.) cut the deficit to seven at 35-28 with 2:25 left, but a 6-1 run to end the half gave Mo Valley a 12-point lead at 41-29 at halftime.

In the second half, the Bobcats were never able to seriously cut into the Viking lead as Missouri Valley maintained the double-digit lead throughout the final 20 minutes.

Team Statistics

The Vikings out-shot Peru State in every statistical category. Mo Valley made 29 of 51 field goals for 56.9%, including the outstanding 12 of 23 shooting from behind the arc for 52.2%. At the free throw line, the Vikings hit 9 of 13 for 69.2%.

Peru State made 21 of 53 field goals for 39.6%, but struggled from three-point range, canning just 2 of 15 for 13.3%. The Bobcats made more trips to the charity stripe than Mo Valley, making 17 of 29 for 58.6%.

The rebounding edge did go to Peru State by one, 32 to 31. The 'Cats committed 13 turnovers compared to 15 for Missouri Valley. The Vikings blocked four shots while Peru State blocked two. Each team had seven steals.

Individual Statistics