MNU took the early 2-0 lead, but Peru State came back on a pair of free throws by Taylor Christensen (Phoenix) to tie it at 2-2 at the 18:59 mark in the first half. After the Pioneers hit a free throw to regain the lead, Nate Bohy (Mesa, Ariz.) hit a bucket in the paint giving Peru State its first lead of the game at 4-3.

Christensen extended the Bobcats' lead to 6-3 with a two-pointer in the paint on an assist from Kody Kirkpatrick (Loami, Ill.). After Peru State grabbed an offensive rebound, Kirkpatrick hit a trey to give the Bobcats its largest lead of the game at 9-3 with 15:47 left in the first half.

A 6-0 run by the Pioneers knotted the score at 9-9 with 14:20 remaining in the first 20 minutes. Peru State regained the lead as Christensen completed an old-fashioned three-point play putting the 'Cats on top 12-9 at the 14:04 mark.

With 12:31 left in the half, a two-pointer by James Pierce (Omaha) put Peru State up by five at 16-11. A 10-0 run by MNU put the Pioneers ahead 21-16 with 9:32 left in the half. It was a lead MNU would not relinquish.

During the rest of the first half, the Pioneers would inch further ahead and had a 45-34 lead at the half.

In the first seven minutes of the second half, the teams basically traded buckets with MNU leading by 13 at 57-44 with 12:49 left in the game. A bucket by Bohy, two free throws by Jesse Jones (Edmond, Okla.), and a two-pointer by Jarvis Green-Smoot (Norfolk) cut into the Pioneers' lead, making it MNU 57-50 with 11:59 left.

A 15-6 run gave the Pioneers their largest lead of the game at 72-56 with 7:41 left on the clock. The Bobcats would try to rally again and did get back within four at 74-70 after Justin Jones (Edmond, Okla.) hit a free throw with 3:06 left.

Another four points by MNU put them up at 78-70, but a pair of free throws, followed by a three-pointer from Brett Pierce (St. Joseph, Mo.) made it 78-75 with 57 ticks left in the game.

The Bobcats were forced to foul and unfortunately MNU made all of their charity tosses at the end of the game to win 86-77.

Team Statistics

The Pioneers connected on 30 of 62 field goal attempts for 48.4%, but only made 1 of 11 three-point tries for .091%. The difference in the game came at the free throw line as MNU hit 25 of 34 for 73.5%.
Peru State only went to the free throw line 22 times and hit 16 for 72.7%. The Bobcats' field goal percentage was 39.7% as they canned 29 of 73 attempts. From behind the arc, Peru State was 3 of 13 for 23.1%.

The Pioneers out-rebounded Peru State 48 to 34, but committed seven more turnovers, 22, compared to the Bobcats' 15. MNU blocked eight shots while Peru State was credited with four.

Individual Statistics

Four Bobcats finished in double figures with Bohy leading the way with 20 points on 8 of 17 shooting from the floor. Kirkpatrick added 12 while Christensen and Jesse Jones each had 11. For Jones, it was a season-high in scoring.

Bohy led Peru State in rebounding with seven while Christensen grabbed four. Kirkpatrick dished out a team-high four assists while Bohy and James Pierce each had three. Brett Pierce, Green-Smoot, and Jesse Jones each had two steals. Justin Jones was credited with two blocks while Christensen and David Leitao III (Virginia Beach, Va.) each had one.

MNU BOX SCORE

Upcoming Games

It will be another HAAC foe on Saturday for Peru State as the Culver-Stockton College Wildcats come to visit the confines of the Al Wheeler Activity Center. Game time for the "BLUE OUT" game is approximately 4 p.m. or 25 minutes following the conclusion of the women's game. The 13^th-ranked Wildcats from Canton, Mo., are 4-2 in the HAAC and 13-3 overall.

Then, on Monday, Jan. 21, Peru State will host a make-up contest with AIB College from Des Moines, Iowa. The game had to be rescheduled from Jan. 6 due to Mother Nature's 50-degree-below-zero wind chills. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.