(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State men's basketball team picked up their fourth win in a row Monday night as they defeated Evangel University 96-76 in Springfield, Mo.
 
With the win, the Bobcats improved to 9-6 overall and 6-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Crusaders fell to 3-13 overall and 2-6 in the Heart.
 
First Half Action
 

The Crusaders started the game with a trey which was countered by a bucket by Riak Bol (Omaha) at the 18:49 mark making it 3-2 Evangel. Evangel came back with a two-pointer of their own only to see Bol score again, this time coming off an assist from Rich Shepherd (Greenville, N.C.). at the 18:21 mark. A field goal by Quantice Hunter (Chicago) put Peru State up for the first time with 17:52 remaining in the first half.
 
Evangel would counter with five points of their own to take their largest lead of the game at 10-6 with 16:21 to go. Another hoop by Bol, on an assist from Corday Sims (Chicago) and then a bucket by Darwin Ellis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tied the game at 10-10 at the 14:44 mark. The Crusaders would have their final lead of the game at 14-13 before a trey by Shepherd, off an assist from Hunter, put Peru State in front for good with 13:04 left in the first half.
 
Peru State had its largest lead at 46-29 when Hunter hit a two-pointer with 4:22 to go in the half. The Crusaders cut it to 11 at 48-37 before Sims hit a trey and then Kris Frazier (Cleveland) finished the half with a bucket with three ticks left on the clock on an assist from Hunter. Peru State led 53-37 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
 
The second 20 minutes was fairly even throughout. The 'Cats went out to a 20-point lead at 66-46 after Hunter hit a field goal at the 15:02 mark. Evangel would cut into the lead and trailed by 14 at 66-52 before Jamar Cannon (Inglewood, Calif.) hit a trey on an assist from Ellis with 12:32 to go. At that point, the Bobcats led 69-52.

 
Peru State's largest lead of the game came at the 9:22 mark when Josh Varney (Cape Coral, Fla.) hit a bucket coming on an assist from Shepherd. Again, the Crusaders fought back and cut it to 13 at 85-72 with 2:32 left. A field goal by Ellis and then a free throw by Sims put the Bobcats back up by 16 at 88-72 with 2:04 remaining.
 
Hunter scored four of the last six Peru State points while Sims hit a field goal with 23 seconds remaining for the final score giving the 'Cats the 96-76 win.
 
Team Statistics
 
The Bobcats were hot from the floor as they made 40 of 75 field attempts for 53.3% which included 6 of 21 from long range for 28.6%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats made 10 of 15 for 66.7%. Evangel made 28 of 63 field goal tries for 44.4% and connected on 6 of 22 from behind the arc for 27.3%. At the charity stripe, the Crusaders hit 14 of 18 for 77.8%.
 
Peru State held a rebounding edge as they snared 42 boards compared to Evangel's 31. The Crusaders dished out 15 assists while the 'Cats had 13. The Bobcats had fewer turnovers as they committed 12 compared to 18 for the Crusaders. Evangel blocked four shots with Peru State swatting away three. The 'Cats grabbed 13 steals while Evangel had six.

 
Individual Statistics
 
Sims finished with a game-high 27 points on 10 of 20 shooting including making 4 of 8 from long range. Frazier added 21 coming on the bench with 9 of 12 shooting. Hunter finished with 17 while Bol added ten.
 
Both Frazier and Sims finished with double-doubles as Frazier had a game-high 12 rebounds with Sims grabbing 11.
 
Cannon dished out a game-high four assists with Shepherd and Hunter each contributing three. Bol, Shepherd, and Hunter each had one block shot. Hunter had a game-high four steals with Shepherd, Sims, and Cannon each adding two.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The 'Cats will host another set of 'Cats, those being the Wildcats of Baker University on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center. Baker is presently 7-8 overall and 3-5 in conference action having lost Monday night at home to league-leading William Penn.

 

On Saturday, Peru State will travel to Avila University in Kansas City, Mo., to take on the Eagles at 4 p.m. Currently, Avila, who is receiving votes in the most reason coaches' poll, are 11-4 overall and 5-3 in the Heart. The Eagles have won three in a row including a win over Missouri Valley on the road Monday night.