(Peru, Neb.) – With a 91-76 win Saturday over the visiting William Penn University Statesmen, the Peru State men's basketball team finds themselves in a tie with the Statesmen on top of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. It was Peru State's fifth win in a row which is their longest winning streak of the season.
 
With the win, the 21^st-ranked Bobcats improved to 14-7 overall and 11-3 in the Heart. The 6^th-ranked Statesmen fell to 17-4 overall and are also now 11-3 in conference action. Each team has eight conference games remaining. Both teams have a one-game lead over 23^rd-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University and a three-game lead over Avila University who is receiving votes.

 
First Half Action
 
Corday Sims (Chicago) hit the first bucket of the game at the 18:48 mark. The Statesmen came back with a bucket to tie it only to see Sims break the tie with a trey making it 5-2 at the 17:33 point in the first half. Another Statesmen bucket cut the deficit to one at 5-4 which would actually be as close as the William Penn team would be the rest of the game.
 
Peru State had its first double-digit lead at 17-6 after Jeff Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit a three-pointer coming off an assist from Darwin Ellis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) with 12:58 left in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Bobcats would lead by 16 at 28-12 on another Neverson field goal with 6:19 left in the half. The Statesmen would cut the lead back to 12 at 30-18 before Kris Frazier (Cleveland) would score in the paint. Quantice Hunter (Chicago) would follow with a trey on an assist from Frazier and then Hunter would get a bucket of his own. This gave Peru State its largest lead of the half at 37-18 with 3:43 to go.
 
The Statesmen would cut into the deficit and get back within 13 at 37-24 after scoring six straight. Frazier broke that mini-run with a two-pointer and later would dish an assist to Ellis who drained a trey making it 42-24 Peru State with 1:20 remaining in the half.
 
After William Penn made one of two free throws, Neverson hit a pair of free throws putting the 'Cats up again by 19 at 44-25 with 57 ticks left in the first half.
 
The Bobcats would eventually go into the locker room at halftime leading 44-28.
 
Second Half Action
 
William Penn would score first in the second half. Hunter countered with a bucket of his own to maintain the 16-point lead at 46-30 at the 18:43 mark.
 
A 9-2 run would put the Statesmen within single-digits at 48-39 with 15:35 left in the game. Frazier would stop that run with a bucket. That was followed by Sims making one of two free throws after a technical had been called on the William Penn bench.

 
Jamar Cannon (Inglewood, Calif.) would hit a three-pointer off an assist from Hunter and the 'Cats were back up by 15 at 54-39 with 13:12 left in the contest.
 
The Statesmen would get back within ten at 56-46 with just under 11 minutes remaining. Ellis would drain a trey off an assist from Riak Bol (Omaha). Following a William Penn bucket, Sims would hit a three-pointer coming from Hunter. A pair of free throws by Frazier again gave Peru State a 16-point advantage at 64-48 with 9:29 left.
 
But, the Statesmen were not down and out. With 7:02 left, William Penn was again back within ten at 68-58. Later, the Statesmen cut the lead to single-digits at 74-65 with 4:48 left on the clock. Frazier hit a bucket to give Peru State a double-digit lead again at 76-65.
 
A William Penn 8-2 run pulled the Statesmen to within five at 78-73 with 2:02 to go in the game. Frazier would stop that run as well with a bucket. After William Penn hit a free throw, the Statesmen were later forced to foul and Peru State was good down the stretch at the free throw line as they made eight of eight at the charity stripe. A Connor Dukes' (Plattsmouth) trey just before the buzzer gave the Bobcats the 15-point victory.

WILLIAM PENN GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The teams' field goal percentage was nearly identical; however, the Bobcats shot better from long range and at the free throw line. Peru State made 30 of 70 field goal attempts for 42.9% while connecting on 12 of 28 three-pointers for and identical 42.9%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats were 19 of 25 for 76%. William Penn made 30 of 71 field goals for 42.3% and made just 5 of 23 treys for 21.7%. At the charity stripe, the Statesmen made 11 of 20 for 55%.

 
William Penn did have a slight rebounding edge as they grabbed 42 caroms compared to Peru State's 37. The Bobcats doubled up the Statesmen on assists as they had 15 while William Penn had seven. The Statesmen had 16 turnovers with Peru State committing just nine miscues. William Penn finished the game with three blocks while the 'Cats had two. The Statesmen had six steals with Peru State getting just two.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Five Bobcats finished in double figures on the night. Sims led the way with 19 points while Frazier finished with 17. Neverson added 13 while Hunter and Rich Shepherd (Greenville, N.C.) each had 11.
 
Frazier finished with a double-double as he tied for game-high rebounding honors with 11 boards. Sims grabbed seven with Bol finishing with six.
 
Hunter dished out four assists with Ellis and Sims each handing out three. Bol blocked two shots while Sims and Cannon were each credited with one steal.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will have a pair of Heart contests next week – that is, Mother Nature permitting. On Wednesday, the Bobcats are scheduled to travel to Lamoni, Iowa, to face the Graceland University Yellowjackets. After starting the season strong, Graceland has dropped its last four contests and are now 12-10 overall and 7-7 in the Heart. Peru State defeated the 'Jackets 81-70 back in December. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 
On Saturday, Feb. 6, the Bobcats will host Culver-Stockton College at 4 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center. Peru State topped the Wildcats in December 90-78 in Canton, Mo. Currently, Culver-Stockton is 8-13 overall and 4-9 in the Heart having lost their last three conference games.