After coming back and making the first half competitive, the Peru State men's basketball team could not make the same effort in the second half at Culver-Stockton on Saturday. The Wildcats jumped to a double-digit lead early in the second half and cruised to a 98-80 win over the Bobcats.
-ranked Wildcats improved to 11-5 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) and 20-6 overall. Presently, Culver-Stockton is tied for second in the conference.
Peru State fell to 9-16 overall and is 4-11 in the HAAC. The Bobcats are holding on to the eighth and final spot for conference post-season play.
It took both teams a little bit to get going as the Wildcats scored the first bucket of the game nearly two minutes into the contest.
Nate Bohy (Mesa, Ariz.) tied it with a jumper in the paint at the 17:41 mark. This would be the only tie for Peru State in the game and they never led in the contest.
Culver-Stockton led by as many as 12 at 21-9 with 9:52 remaining in the first 20 minutes. The Bobcats did make a comeback and pulled within two at 26-24 when
Jarvis Green-Smoot (Norfolk) hit a trey on an assist from
Kody Kirkpatrick (Loami, Ill.). That would be as close as Peru State would be the entire game.
Peru State stayed within single digits for the first four minutes of the second half before the Wildcats took a 12-point lead at 56-44. After that point, Culver-Stockton continued to build on its lead and led by as many as 23 at 96-73 with 2:08 left in the game. The Bobcats finished with a 7-2 run, but the Wildcats won 98-80.
Team Statistics
Culver-Stockton hit over 50% of their field goal attempts as they made 38 of 75 for 50.7%. From behind the arc, the Wildcats made 22.2% of their tries. At the free throw line, Culver-Stockton made 18 of 26 for 69.2%.
The Bobcats connected on 29 of 71 field goals for 40.8%, including 3 of 15 from three-point range for 20%. Peru State made 19 of 27 free throws for 70.4%.
The Wildcats held a decisive advantage in rebounding as they grabbed 51 compared to Peru State's 36. It was a pretty clean ball game in terms of turnovers. Peru State committed only ten while the Wildcats committed 12. Both teams blocked five shots while the Bobcats grabbed eight steals and Culver-Stockton had six.
Individual Statistics
Peru State had four players in double figures with Kirkpatrick leading the way with 23 points. Bohy finished with 17 while
Taylor Christensen (Phoenix) and James Pierce
(Omaha) each added 14.
Bohy finished the game with a double-double as he led Peru State with 11 rebounds. Christensen and Pierce each had seven rebounds.
Bohy dished out six assists with Kirkpatrick adding three.
Brett Pierce (St. Joseph, Mo.) and James Pierce each had two steals. Christensen had two of Peru State's blocked shots while David Leitao III
(Virginia Beach, Va.), Bohy, and Kirkpatrick each had one.
CULVER-STOCKTON BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
Since Mother Nature and her power outage forced the postponement of last Thursday night's games, Peru State will be playing their final three regular season games this week.
The Bobcats will be hosting the Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazarene University on Tuesday, Feb. 25, in the make-up of the postponed game. Presently, the Pioneers are 17-10 overall and 9-6 in the HAAC. In addition, they are among teams receiving votes in the most recent coaches' poll. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Baker University will host the Bobcats on Thursday, Feb. 27, in Baldwin City, Kan. The Wildcats are currently last in the ten-team league would have to win at least one, if not two games, to possibly have a chance for post-season play. Baker is 3-13 in the HAAC and 9-18 overall. Game time is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m.
It will be Senior Day on Saturday, March 1, for Peru State as they host the Eagles of Central Methodist University. Central Methodist is currently ranked 22
nd and is 9-7 in the HAAC and 16-12 overall. Five seniors will be recognized prior to the game which will start at approximately 4 p.m.
