After the Eagles scored the first two free throws on a pair of free throws, Jesse Jones (Edmond, Okla.) grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in to knot it at 2-2 with 19:12 left on the first-half clock.

Another free throw and bucket gave CMU a 5-2 lead before Jones hit his second straight bucket, this time on an assist from Nate Bohy (Mesa, Ariz.) at the 18:03 mark. Peru State gained its first lead of the half when Jones hit a trey to make it 7-5 with 16:30 remaining in the first 20 minutes on an assist from Brett Pierce (St. Joseph, Mo.).

With 12:40 to go in the first stanza, Peru State had its largest lead of the game at 14-10 after Jones hit another trey, this time on an assist from Bohy.

The Eagles would go on a 16-4 run to take their largest lead of the first half at 26-18 with five minutes to go in the half. Peru State would slowly cut into that eight-point lead and were within two at 28-26 after Bohy hit a pair of free throw with 1:13 left before halftime.

CMU would add one free throw before the half to lead 29-26.

In the first five minutes of the second half, the Eagles would build up to their largest lead of the game at 43-34. Peru State would methodically cut into that lead and came back to tie it at 48-48 when Justin Jones (Edmond, Okla.) scored on a fast break on an assist from Jarvis Green-Smoot (Norfolk) with 9:42 left in the game.

The Eagles would regain the lead on a bucket before James Pierce (Omaha) made a pair of free throws to keep it tied at 50-50. Both teams went over three minutes before scoring again when CMU hit one free throw to lead 51-50 before Green-Smoot found Taylor Christensen (Phoenix) in the paint to put the 'Cats on top 52-51.

The teams would later be tied at 53-53 and 56-56 before the Eagles scored five to lead 61-56 with 1:36 remaining. Another field goal by Christensen, this time on an assist from Jesse Jones, got the Bobcats back within three at 61-58 with 19 seconds left.

Following a Peru State timeout, Christensen stole the ball and again the Bobcats called timeout. With two seconds left on the clock, Green-Smoot's three-point attempt to tie was missed with the Eagles grabbing the rebound to hold on for the three-point win.

Team Statistics

The Eagles shot slightly better than Peru State in all categories. CMU was 23 of 63 from the floor for 38.3%, including 7 of 24 from three-point range for 29.2%. At the free throw line, Central Methodist was 8 of 11 for 72.7%.
Peru State made 22 of 61 field goals for 36.1%, but only hit 2 of 14 from behind the arc for 14.3%. The 'Cats were 12 of 17 from the charity stripe for 70.6%.

The Bobcats did out-rebound CMU, grabbing 43 boards compared to 37. Both turnovers committed only ten turnovers. The Eagles did block six Peru State shots while the Bobcats were credited with one block.

Individual Statistics

Christensen finished with a double-double as he scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds – both game-highs. Christensen was 10 of 18 from the floor.

Two other Bobcats were in double figures as Jesse Jones finished with 12 and Bohy with ten.

Green-Smoot and Brett Pierce each dished out three assists while James Pierce led the team with two steals. David Leitao III (Virginia Beach, Va.) was credited with a blocked shot.

CENTRAL METHODIST BOX SCORE

Upcoming Games

Two more conference games are on tap for the Bobcats this week. On Thursday, Peru State will take on the Benedictine College Ravens in Atchison, Kan., at approximately 7:30 p.m. After the 15^th-ranked Ravens upset fifth-ranked Evangel University on Saturday, Benedictine now is on top of the HAAC with an 8-1 record and is 15-4 overall.

The Bobcats will be at home on Saturday, Feb. 1, when they host Evangel at approximately 4 p.m. The Crusaders are 7-1 and in second place in the conference. Overall, Evangel is 16-4 on the season.

Peru State will have back-to-back exhibition games the following week as they will face two NCAA Division I teams. On Tuesday, Feb. 4, Peru State will face the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D. with game time scheduled for 7 p.m. Then, after travelling home that night, the Bobcats will head to Ralston to take on the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks in a morning game at 11 a.m. UNO's game will be held at the Ralston Arena. The Mavericks are planning on hosting area elementary students for the game that morning.