(Peru, Neb.) – Like their women counterparts, the Peru State men's basketball team started the 2015 part of their season with a win over Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU) in the Coyote Classic on Jan. 2.  Again, like their female counterparts, though, the 'Cats dropped their Jan. 3 contest to Bethany College.
 
With the split, Peru State is now 8-5 on the season.
 
Kansas Wesleyan Game Action
 
Similar to the women's game on Friday, the early part of the men's basketball game was close, but for not as long.  The game was tied at 17-17 with 12:45 left in the first half and then the Bobcats pulled away to lead by as many as 15 in the half before the Coyotes cut the deficit at the end of the first 20 minutes.

 
After KWU scored the first two points of the game, Grant Leslie (Auburn) tied it with 19:02 to go.  Leslie then put Peru State ahead later with one of two free throws which was followed by a three-point bucket by Jeff Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) at the 18:13 mark. 
 
The game was later tied by Kansas Wesleyan at 6-6 with 17:04 left and then again at 8-8 at the 15:52 mark.  Peru State jumped to a 17-11 lead only to see the Coyotes tied it with a pair of treys.
 
A basket by Sean McGary (Omaha) made it 19-17 and the 'Cats never trailed after that point. 
 
At halftime, Peru State led 39-32.
 
To start the second half, the Bobcats went on a 7-0 run before the Coyotes would make a free throw at the 16:38 point in the second half.
 
The 'Cats would lead by as many as 19 before taking the 80-62 win.
 
Kansas Wesleyan Team Statistics
 
Peru State did outshoot KWU in the game.  The Bobcats made 26 of 54 field goals for 48.1% which included going 6 of 18 from behind the arc for 33.3%.  At the free throw line, the 'Cats were 22 of 32 for 68.8%.
 
The Coyotes connected on 22 of 59 field goals for 37.3%.  From long range, KWU made 8 of 23 of 34.8%.  At the charity stripe, the Coyotes were 10 of 19 for 52.6%.
 
KWU held the rebounding advantage as they grabbed 43 boards compared to Peru State's 32.  However, the Coyotes committed almost twice as many turnovers as they had 22 while the Bobcats committed 12.  The 'Cats had a season-high 16 steals in the game.
 
Kansas Wesleyan Individual Statistics
 
Four Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Neverson who had a game-high 20 points.  McGary added 16 while Corday Sims (Chicago) and David Plain (Chicago) had 13 and 12 respectively. 
 
John Ruffin (Chicago) had a team-high eight rebounds with McGary adding seven boards.  Ruffin and McGary shared game-high honors while dishing out three assists each.

 
McGary had a game-high five steals with Neverson grabbing four steals.

KWU GAME BOX
 
Bethany Game Action
 
The first half was close throughout with the 'Cats eventually leading at the end of the break.
 
Bethany scored the first five points of the game before a pair of Neverson free throws got the Bobcats on the board at the 18:12 mark.  Later, Leslie would make one of two free throw attempts to cut it to 5-3. 
 
Peru State would take its first lead of the half when McGary hit a three-pointer on an assist from Plain with 17:27 left in the first 20 minutes.
 
Plain would himself drain a three-pointer as McGary provided the assist to give the 'Cats a 9-5 lead with 15:53 remaining.
 
The Swedes would fight back to tie it, but consecutive buckets by Neverson, McGary, and Leslie would make it 15-9.  Leslie, whose bucket came on an assist from Brett Pierce (St. Joseph, Mo.), would add a free throw giving the 'Cats their largest lead of the half at 16-9 with 13:13 showing on the clock.
 
Bethany would go on a 9-2 run to again tie it at 18-18 with 9:12 left in the half.  Later the game would be tied at 24-24 and 27-27 before Pierce would hit a three to put the 'Cats on top for the rest of the half. 
 
At halftime, Peru State led 33-31.
 
The Bobcats would maintain their lead for a significant portion of the second half.  With 18:13 remaining in the game, the 'Cats had built their lead back to seven at 40-33 as Plain completed an old-fashioned three-point play.
 
A 13-6 run would allow the Swedes to knot the game at 46-46 with 11 minutes left.  Bethany would take the lead with a bucket, but Neverson would tie the game at 48-48 with less than ten minutes to go.
 
 

A pair of treys by Bethany would give them the lead, one they would not relinquish during the rest of the game.  The Swedes led by as many as 14 at 69-55 with 3:40 left before the 'Cats would cut it to 77-70 at the end.  Bethany improved to 11-4 with the win.
 
Bethany Team Statistics
 
Bethany shot better than the Bobcats as they made 25 of 55 field goals for 45.5% which included making 6 of 18 three-point attempts for 33.3%.  At the free throw line, the Swedes were 21 of 30 for 70%.
 
The 'Cats made 22 of 57 field goals for 38.6% while making 7 of 17 from behind the arc for 41.2%.  At the charity stripe, Peru State was 19 of 31 for 61.3%.
 
The Swedes held the rebounding edge grabbing 42 boards compared to Peru State's 34.  The 'Cats committed fewer turnovers as they had 12 while Bethany committed 17. 
 
Bethany Individual Statistics
 
Five Bobcats finished in double figures with another just one bucket short of being in double digits. 
 
McGary led Peru State with 16 while Pierce added 13 which was a career high for him.  Ruffin added 12 points with Plain finishing with 11.  Leslie contributed 10 with Neverson just a bucket short with eight.
 
McGary finished with a double-double as he grabbed a game-high ten rebounds.  Neverson nabbed nine with Ruffin adding seven.
 
Plain and McGary each dished out three assists with Pierce and Neverson contributing two each.
 
Ruffin blocked one shot and Pierce had two steals.

BETHANY GAME BOX
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play two contests next week – both of which will be Heart of America Athletic Conference action.
 
On Thursday, Jan. 8, the 'Cats will be in Lamoni, Iowa, to face Graceland University at 7:30 p.m.  Currently, the Yellowjackets are 4-8 overall and 1-2 in the Heart. 
 
The Bobcats will be at home on Saturday, Jan. 10, when the Missouri College Vikings come to Peru for a 4 p.m. contest.  The Vikings are presently 8-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play.  Peru State's and Missouri Valley's records are identical prior to their Thursday night action.