(Peru, Neb.) – It took over 30 minutes of the ballgame before the Peru State men's basketball team took the lead for good in their upset win over the visiting Central Methodist University (CMU) Eagles on Saturday night.
The Bobcats toppled CMU 91-83 in the Al Wheeler Activity Center. Coming into the contest, the Eagles had been receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll.
With the win, Peru State improves to 12-8 overall and own a 5-4 mark in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Eagles fell to 13-6 overall and are also 5-4 which puts them in a tie for fourth with the Bobcats in the ten-team league.
Phillip Jackson goes between several CMU defenders
to score early in the game. Jackson had 22 in the win. The win actually ties the most conference wins Peru State has had since joining the Heart four years ago.
Game Action The first half went back and forth as there were six ties and four lead changes. The largest lead by CMU was five at 25-20 at the 9:47 mark while Peru State's largest lead in the first 20 minutes came at 34-30 with 5:48 left in the half.
After grabbing a defensive rebound, CMU scored the first bucket of the game nearly one minute into the contest. A pair of free throws by
Sean McGary (Omaha) knotted the game at 2-2.
The game was again tied at 10-10 after
Phillip Jackson (Chicago) hit a pair of free throws to pull the 'Cats even.
After the game was tied again at 12-12, the Eagles once again jumped to an advantage and held the lead the game was tied at 27-27. Jackson broke that tie, but the Eagles tied it right back up on their next possession.
Later, CMU would tie it at 34-34 with 3:49 left in the half and then took the lead as an Eagle drained the third of three free throws.
Jamar Cannon (Inglewood, Calif.) would give Peru State a 38-37 lead, but CMU hit a bucket to take a 39-38 lead into the intermission.
A bucket by Jackson to start the second half put the 'Cats back on top, but, it was short-lived. CMU went on an 11-2 run to take their largest lead of the game at 50-42 with 17:14 left in the contest.
Peru State would fight its way back with an 8-0 run to tie it at 50-50 after
Jeff Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit a bucket forcing an Eagle timeout.
Jamar Cannon goes high to score with ten minutes left in the game The teams literally traded buckets as the game was tied at 52-52, 54-54, 56-56, 58-58, and then 60-60, which proved to be the last time Peru State trailed in the game with 9:36 remaining.
Corday Sims (Chicago) hit a bucket to put the Bobcats on top for good. The 'Cats would extend their lead to 11 at 84-73 after Sims made a pair of free throws with 46 seconds left.
Peru State would hit their free throws to close out the game with a 91-83 victory.
Team Statistics From the field, the Eagles actually shot better than Peru State. CMU made 29 of 64 field goals for 45.3% which included hitting 7 of 19 from long range for 36.8%. At the free throw line, the Eagles went 18 of 25 for 72%.
The Bobcats made 31 of 70 field goals for 44.3% and struggled from behind the arc as they made just 2 of 14 for 14.3%. Peru State had its best night of the season at the charity line as they connected on 27 of 29 for 93.1%.
Peru State held an advantage in rebounding as they grabbed 42 while the Eagles finished with 32. The team was pretty clean as CMU committed 12 turnovers while Peru State had ten.
Individual Statistics Three Bobcats finished scoring more than 20 points. Jackson and McGary each had 22 points while Sims added 21.
Jackson finished with a double-double as he had a game-high 13 rebounds with Sims just missing a double-double as he added nine boards.
Sean McGary gets a dunk late in
the game for Peru State. McGary
also had 22 in the win.McGary and Neverson each dished out four assists. McGary had three steals with
John Ruffin (Chicago) nabbing two. Jackson blocked two shots.
CENTRAL METHODIST GAME BOOK Upcoming Games Peru State will host Benedictine College Thursday night. The 'Cats knocked off the ninth-ranked Ravens in Atchison, Kan., at the beginning of the year. Currently, Benedictine is 7-2 in conference play and is 18-3 overall. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women's game.
Then, on Saturday, the Bobcats will be traveling to face the conference leaders, the Evangel University Crusaders, in Springfield, Mo. Presently, the Crusaders are 13-7 overall and 8-1 in the Heart. Evangel is ranked 21
st in the latest coaches' poll, but lost Saturday at Benedictine.
