(Peru, Neb.) – After knocking off the ninth-ranked Benedictine Ravens on Thursday night, the Peru State Bobcats faced their second straight top ten team as the tenth-ranked Evangel University Crusaders visited the Al Wheeler Activity Center (AWAC) on Saturday.

After being tied at halftime 26-26, the Crusaders eventually pulled away for a 74-65 win over Peru State. With the win, Evangel improved to 18-4 overall and are 9-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) as they retained lead. Peru State fell to 9-12 overall and 4-7 in conference play. The Bobcats are alone in eighth in the HAAC, just one-half game back of sixth place as Graceland University and Missouri Valley College are both tied with 4-6 marks.

First Half Action

In the first half, Peru State never led, but tied the game at four different times with the last tie coming at halftime.
After Evangel hit the first bucket, Justin Jones (Edmond, Okla.) hit a bucket to tie it at 2-2 with 18:55 left in the first 20 minutes. Jones then followed up with a pair of free throws after the Crusaders had regained the lead with a bucket.

Evangel then hit a pair of free throws which followed by a bucket by Brett Pierce (St. Joseph, Mo.). With 16:09 left in the first stanza, the game was tied at 6-6.

The Crusaders would lead throughout the rest of the first half and led by as many as eight at 16-8. After that point, Peru State would close that gap to one.

Taylor Christensen (Phoenix) hit a field goal to make it 16-10 on an assist from Nate Bohy (Mesa, Ariz.). Christensen would make it 16-12, this time on an assist from Kody Kirkpatrick (Loami, Ill.).

After an Evangel bucket, Jones would complete an old-fashioned three-point play to cut the lead to 18-15. Then, with 5:01 to go in the half, Kirkpatrick hit a bucket to make it 18-17.

Evangel would stretch their lead to 25-20 with 2:35 to go in the half. Pierce hit a pair of free throws to make it 25-20 and then Christensen hit another bucket in the paint to get it back to a one-point deficit at 25-24 with 1:46 remaining.

Following an Evangel free throw, James Pierce (Omaha) hit a bucket in the paint with 12 seconds left on the clock to give Peru State a 26-26 tie at halftime.

Second Half Action

The game was still within one after the first four minutes of the second half with Peru State having its last lead at 33-32 when Christensen hit the second of two free throw attempts. Evangel hit a bucket on their next time down the court to gain the lead for good with 15:56 remaining in the game.

Peru State would only be as close as two twice later in the second half. Jarvis Green-Smoot (Norfolk) made a pair of free throws to make it Evangel 39-37 at the 12:57 mark.

Later, Kirkpatrick hit a trey to cut it to 47-45 with 8:07 remaining. The Crusaders would then go on an 18-6 run to gain their largest lead of the game at 65-51 with three minutes left in the second half.

The 'Cats would get back within seven at 72-65 after Kirkpatrick completed the old-fashioned three-point play with 16 seconds left on the clock.

Team Statistics

Evangel made 21 of 51 field goal tries for 46.7%, which included hitting 3 of 11 from three-point range for 27.3%. At the free throw line, the Crusaders made 29 of 38 for 76.3%.

The Bobcats connected on 23 of 59 field goals for 39.0%, but struggled from long distance as they hit only 2 of 17 for 11.8%. Peru State was good at the charity stripe, making 17 of 21 for 81%.

Peru State held the rebounding edge at 34 to 28. The Bobcats did commit more turnovers, 12, compared to Evangel's seven miscues.

The Crusaders had two blocked shots while Peru State was credited with one.

Individual Statistics