(Peru, Neb.) – It was not to be for the Peru State men on Saturday as the Missouri Valley College Vikings came to the Al Wheeler Athletic Center and went home with a 75-63 win.
With the win, the Vikings solidified their spot in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) post-season tournament as they evened their conference mark at 7-7, good enough for sixth in the HAAC. Overall, Mo Valley is now 14-11.
The Bobcats fell to 9-15 overall and 4-10 in the HAAC which places them in eighth in the ten-team league. The top eight teams will enter post-season play the first full week in March. All of the HAAC teams have four games remaining in the regular season.
Game Action
The Vikings opened with a trey to take an early 3-0 lead. The first time Peru State had the ball,
Nate Bohy (Mesa, Ariz.) hit a three-pointer on an assist from
Kody Kirkpatrick (Loami, Ill.) with 18:57 left in the first 20 minutes.
After a defensive rebound by
Taylor Christensen (Phoenix), Bohy hit another trey, again on an assist from Kirkpatrick. Two buckets by Mo Valley gave the Vikings their first lead at 7-6, but
Jesse Jones (Edmond, Okla.) tied it after making the second of two free throws.
On Missouri Valley's next possession, the Vikings hit a trey, making it 10-7 with 16:11 remaining in the first stanza. The Vikings would never trail the rest of the game, even though Peru State would make runs on different occasions.
The Vikings led by as many as 13 at 38-25 with 4:36 to go in the first half. The 'Cats would go on a 9-0 run with a bucket by Jones off a Mo Valley turnover would make it 38-34 with 2:23 left in the half. Eventually, Missouri Valley would lead by six at halftime, 42-36.
In the second 20 minutes, the Vikings quickly built their lead to double digits and held on for the 75-63 win.
Team Statistics
The Vikings shot extremely well in the contest as they made 26 of 44 field goals for 59.1%. From behind the arc, Mo Valley made 6 of 7 three pointers, all in the first half, for 85.7%. At the charity stripe, the Vikings hit 17 of 25 for 68%.
Peru State made 20 of 46 for 43.5% including 5 of 10 from three-point range for 50%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats were 18 of 26 for 69.2%.
The Bobcats did grab more rebounds than Mo Valley, 25 to 22. Both teams committed 16 turnovers with both teams having two blocked shots.
Individual Statistics
Four Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Bohy as he tied for game-high honors with 20 points. Christensen and Jones each finished with 13 points while Kirkpatrick added ten.
Christensen had a game-high nine rebounds while Bohy added five. Kirkpatrick dished out four assists while Bohy added two.
Brett Pierce (St. Joseph, Mo.) and Kirkpatrick each had two steals while Christensen was credited with two blocks.
MIS
SOURI VALLEY BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
Peru State will host the Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazarene University on Thursday night. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. or approximately 25 minutes following the conclusion of the women's game. The Pioneers are currently alone at fifth in the HAAC with an 8-6 conference mark and are 16-10 overall.
The 'Cats will travel to Canton, Mo., on Saturday to face Culver-Stockton College at approximately 4 p.m. Currently, the 10
th-ranked Wildcats are in second in the conference with a 10-4 mark and are 19-5 overall.
