(Peru, Neb.) – If a team has 33 turnovers in a game when playing a good team, it usually does not end up on a positive note. That was the case Monday night as the Peru State men's basketball team fell to the Park Pirates in Parkville, Mo., 88-76.
 
With the win, Park improved to 3-1 while the 'Cats fell to 2-2 on the young season.
 
First Half Action
 
After the Pirates hit the opening bucket, Darwin Ellis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tied it up with a jumper. Park made a three-pointer with Kris Frazier (Cleveland, Ohio) cutting the deficit to one with a basket in the paint. The Pirates went up 7-4 before Frazier grabbed an offensive rebound with Quantice Hunter (Chicago) knotting it at 7-7 with a trey at the 18:11 mark.

 
Nearly a minute later, Park hit a jumper in the paint and that actually put the Pirates in the lead for good at that point.
 
At 11:37 in the first half, the Pirates had built the lead to ten at 22-12. The Bobcats did make a little run as Jeff Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) grabbed an offensive rebound and Connor Dukes (Plattsmouth) drained a three-pointer with 11:13 left in the first 20 minutes to make it 22-15. At the 10:22 mark, Ellis made a pair of free throws and Peru State was within five at 22-17.
 
The Bobcats would remain that close until the 5:50 mark in the first half when they trailed 30-26 after Hunter made a pair of free throws. Park would close out the half on a 21-6 run and led by 19 at 51-32 after the first 20 minutes.
 
Second Half Action
 
Peru State would have to fight from behind the entire second half and with 5:33 left in the game, after a pair of Corday Sims (Chicago) free throws, the 'Cats were trailing by single digits at 73-64.
 

Later, after a bucket by Frazier, Peru State had cut it to four at 75-71 with 3:29 left on the clock. That would be as close as the Bobcats would get as the Pirates finished the game with a 13-5 run to pull away for their third win.

PARK GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
After shooting well on the weekend, the Bobcats only connected on 35.8% of their 67 field goal tries which included making only 7 of 26 three-pointers for 26.9%. They did fare much better at the free throw line while make 21 of 26 for 80.8%.
 
Park made 30 of 71 field goals for 42.3% and hit 5 of 20 treys for 25%. At the charity stripe, the Pirates made 23 of 31 for 74.2%.
 
The Pirates had a slight rebounding edge as they had 49 boards compared to Peru State's 43. As noted earlier, the big difference came in the turnover category as the Bobcats committed 33 while Park had 22 miscues.

 
Another difference came in assists as the Pirates dished out 23 assists while Peru State had 13.
 
Park blocked eight shots and had 17 steals while the 'Cats finished with three blocks and 12 steals.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Peru State continued to have balanced scoring as they had four players finishing in double figures. Sims led the effort with 17 points while Ellis added 16. Hunter and Karim Diop (Dakar, Senegal) each finished with ten.
 
Frazier had a game-high 13 rebounds while Neverson finished with ten.
 
Ellis dished out four assists with Sims and Darin Minniefield (Houston, Texas) each added three. Sims grabbed five steals while Neverson had three.
 
Frazier, Dukes, and Diop each had one blocked shot.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will be participating in the Northwestern Classic this Friday and Saturday in Orange City, Iowa. On Friday, the Bobcats will face Dordt (Iowa) at 6 p.m. The Defenders are presently 1-2 on the season.
 
The host Red Raiders will be Peru State's opponent on Saturday at 5 p.m. Northwestern is 1-1 on the year and will play Viterbo (Wis.) on Friday night in the Classic.
 
Next Wednesday night, Peru State will play its first Heart of America Athletic Conference game when they travel to Atchison, Kan., to take on Benedictine. The Ravens have started the season 3-0 and will host Park this weekend before the Bobcats come to town.