(Peru, Neb.) – Matej Delinac was the hero for the Peru State men's basketball team Saturday afternoon. Delinac grabbed a rebound of a teammate's missed attempt near the end of the game and somehow got the ball back to the hoop for a basket to give the Bobcats an 86-84 win over the visiting Evangel (Mo.) Crusaders.
 
It was the first day for Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) action so the 'Cats started conference play with a win and improved to 2-2 overall. The Crusaders fell to 0-2 overall and are 0-1 in the Heart.

 
First Half Action
 
The first half was tight throughout as it was tied on eight different occasions and there were 13 lead changes. Evangel did lead by as many as eight, but Peru State only led by two in the first 20 minutes.
 
Lyle Hexom (Omaha) scored the first bucket of the game with 19:21 on the clock. Evangel would tie it and go ahead 4-2 before Delinac hit a three-pointer off an assist from Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) with 17:04 left in the first half.
 
Later, after the game was tied for the sixth time at 16-16, the Crusaders went on an 8-0 run to have their largest lead of the game at 24-16. After each team made a free throw, Biyendolo hit a pair of free throws to cut it to 25-19 with 9:52 to go in the half. Rashad Brackeen (Oakland, Calif.) then drained a trey off an assist from Anthony Richardson (Schenectady, N.Y.) and now the 'Cats were back within three at 25-22. After a defensive rebound, Richardson would then dish a dime to Brandon Eboigbodin (Nashville) who hit a three-pointer to tie it at 27-27.
 
Peru State would then fall behind again by as many as six at 35-29 before making another comeback. With 2:22 left in the half, Brackeen would put the 'Cats back on top at 40-39.
 
However, the Crusaders would score the last four points of the half and went into the locker room leading 43-40.
 
Second Half Action
 
After the game was tied for the tenth time at 51-51, the Crusaders would jump out to a lead as many as five at 59-54 with 14:13 left in the game.
 
Later, a three-pointer by Hexom on an assist from Richardson would put the Bobcats back on top 62-61 with 12:17 remaining.
 
Peru State would build its lead to ten at 74-64 after Hexom would hit again from long range, this time on an assist from Eboigbodin with just over seven minutes left in the game.
 
But, there was still fight in the Crusaders. They went on an 11-0 run to regain the lead with 4:27 left. Brackeen would make a free throw to tie it at 75-75 and then followed with a trey with 3:30 to go to put the 'Cats up 78-75.

 
Eventually, the Crusaders came back to tie it at 82-82 before Brackeen hit a bucket in the paint with 40 seconds left. Evangel would tie the game with 12 ticks left on the clock which set up the final possession for Peru State.
 
With less than two seconds on the clock, Eboigbodin shot a three-pointer which rimmed out. Delinac was able to grabbed the offensive rebound and put it back in before the red lights went off on the back board to give the Bobcats the 86-84 victory.

EVANGEL GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball well in the contest. The Crusaders made 29 of 60 field goals for 48.3% which included making 8 of 24 from three-point range for 33.3%. At the charity stripe, Evangel made 18 of 23 for 78.3%. Peru State made 30 of 64 field goals for 46.9% and hit 11 of 25 from behind the arc for 44%. The 'Cats had a good night at the free throw line making 15 of 18 for 83.3%.
 
Peru State had a big rebounding edge as they grabbed 39 boards compared to 24 for the Crusaders. The teams dished out a similar amount of assists as the 'Cats had 15 while Evangel had 14.
 
The Bobcats did commit a few more turnovers than Evangel – 14 to nine. Peru State blocked two shots while Evangel had one blocked shot. The Crusaders had one more steal than the 'Cats as they finished with eight.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Delinac led all scorers with 25 points on 9 of 16 shooting. Four other Bobcats finished in double figures in the game. Brackeen finished with 18 while Hexom added 17. Eboigbodin and Biyendolo each had 11 points.

 
Eboigbodin and Hexom each had a game-high nine rebounds while Biyendolo added seven.
 
Richardson dished out four assists with Biyendolo contributing three. Hexom, Brackeen, and Delinac each added two assists.
 
Hexom was credited with both Peru State blocked shots. Brackeen and Eboigbodin each had two steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play another pair of Heart games this coming week. On Wednesday, the Bobcats will host Missouri Valley in a game scheduled to start at approximately 7:30 p.m. The Vikings are 2-1 overall and are 1-0 in the Heart after topping Culver-Stockton (Mo.) at home on Saturday.
 
On Nov. 19, the 'Cats will travel to face MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kan., in another Heart game scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. The Pioneers have an identical record as Missouri Valley and won their Heart opener over new league opponent Mount Mercy (Iowa) 88-79 on the road.