(Peru, Neb.) – A three-game losing streak was broken on Thursday night as the Peru State men's basketball team scored 51 points in the first half in route to an 88-75 victory over the visiting MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) Pioneers.
With the win, the Bobcats improve to 9-7 overall and even their Heart of America Athletic Conference mark at 3-3. The Pioneers dropped their fifth game in a row as they fell to 3-12 overall and 2-4 in the Heart.
Game Action Sean McGary (Omaha) scored the first bucket of the game for Peru State which was quickly matched by MNU. After the only tied of the game, the Bobcats reeled off the next nine points to lead 11-2 at the 17:15 mark in the first half.
Jamar Cannon hits one of his three-point attempts early in the game The Pioneers hit a trey to cut the deficit to six at 11-5, but that would be as close as MidAmerica Nazarene would be during the rest of the game.
Peru State would outscore MNU 40-24 over the rest of the first half to take what appeared to be a comfortable 51-29 lead into intermission.
The 'Cats shot nearly 60% from the floor as they went 23 of 37 for 59.5% while holding MNU to 9 of 32 shooting for 28.1%. Peru State held a slight rebounding edge at halftime, 21 to 17.
Phil Jackson
(Chicago) hit a bucket to open the second half to give the 'Cats what would be their largest lead of the second stanza at 53-29.
Over the course of the next ten minutes, MNU would outscore the Bobcats 29-13 to cut the deficit to eight at 66-58 with 8:57 left in the game. The Pioneers would actually cut the lead to seven at 68-61 with 6:02 left, but that is as close as the game would get.
The 'Cats would jump back out to a 15-point cushion at 79-64 as
Grant Leslie (Auburn) put down a dunk on an assist from
David Plain (Chicago) with 3:36 left and made the free throw after being fouled.
The teams would trade buckets throughout the rest of the game with Peru State gaining the 88-75 win.
Jeff Neverson slams a dunk in the first half Team Statistics The Bobcats maintained their hot shooting from the floor as they finished the game making 32 of 59 field goals for 54.2% which included making 7 of 16 three-point tries for 43.8%. Peru State did struggle from the free throw line and could have had a much-larger victory margin as they only made 17 of 33 attempts for 51.5%.
MNU was 19 of 54 in field goals for 35.2%. From behind the arc, the Pioneers hit on 6 of 16 for 37.5%. MidAmerica Nazarene kept them in the game from the free throw line as they made 31 of 38 charity tries for 81.6%.
The rebounding was nearly even as MNU had 36 while Peru State had 35. It was about the same in turnovers as the Pioneers committed 16 compared to the Bobcats' 17 miscues.
Individual Statistics Four Bobcats finished in double figures with one other just one point shy. McGary scored 19 to lead Peru State while Jackson and
Jamar Cannon (Inglewood, Calif.) each added 16.
John Ruffin (Chicago) added ten points with Leslie finishing with nine.
Cannon and
Jeff Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) each grabbed seven rebounds to lead Peru State with
Corday Sims (Chicago) added six.
David Plain (Chicago) dished out six assists with Sims adding five. Sims, Cannon, and Plain each had three steals. Sims was credited with the lone Peru State block.
MIDAMERICA NAZARENE GAME BOX 
Sean McGary drives to the hoop with one of his many
drives between MNU defenders. McGary led Peru
State with 19 points.Upcoming Games The Bobcats are traveling to Canton, Mo., on Saturday, Jan. 17, for a match-up with Culver-Stockton College. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. for the 7-9 Wildcats. Culver-Stockton is currently 2-3 in conference play after coming off a 108-63 loss at the hands of Missouri Valley College.
On Monday, the Bobcats will be hosting Grace University in a game scheduled for 7 p.m. Currently, the Royals are 8-11 overall. Grace is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.
