(Peru, Neb.) – If the first two weeks of conference play are any indication, it is going to be quite a season for all of the teams in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart).
 
After going 1-1 in their first two Heart match-ups, the Peru State Bobcats went on the road Saturday and captured a 90-83 overtime win over the eighth-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene (MNU) Pioneers in Olathe, Kan.
 
With the win, the 'Cats improved to 3-3 overall and are 2-1 in the Heart. MNU fell to 2-2 overall and are 1-1 in conference action.

 
First Half Action
 
In the first seven minutes of the game, it was tied five different times. A basket by Paulius Sakinis (Klaipeda, Lithuania) tied it at 11-11 with 13:02 to go in the first 20 minutes. After that tie, the Pioneers scored a two-pointer on a fast break to go back on top 13-11. A three-pointer by Rashad Brackeen (Oakland, Calif.) gave Peru State a 14-13 lead at the 11:46 point in the half. It was a lead the 'Cats would not relinquish the rest of the half.
 
The Bobcats would go up by ten at 29-19 at the 7:08 mark when Brandon Eboigbodin (Nashville) hit a trey. Later, at the 5:14 point in the half, Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) hit a bucket off an assist from Anthony Richardson (Schenectady, N.Y.) to give the 'Cats a 12-point advantage at 35-23.
 
With 3:04 remaining in the half, Peru State would have its largest lead of the half at 40-26 after Biyendolo made another bucket in the paint.
 
The Pioneers would get within eight at 42-34 with 1:06 left in the first twenty minutes. Lyle Hexom (Omaha) would get a bucket with 47 seconds left to give the 'Cats a 44-34 halftime lead.
 
Second Half Action
 
MNU would start the second half with a 16-5 run to take a 50-49 lead within the first five minutes. Hexom would make one of two free throws to tie it at 50-50 before Eboigbodin, off an assist from Brackeen, would put the 'Cats back up 52-50 with 14:12 left in the contest.
 

After the game was tied at 56-56 with 12:53 to go, the Pioneers would take the lead and maintain the lead until a bucket by Brackeen would tie the game at 76-76 with ten seconds left. Brackeen would complete the three-point play to put Peru State up 77-76 after being fouled on the play.
 
MNU would tie the game with a free throw, but missed the second attempt and grabbed an offensive rebound. The Pioneers got off a shot which was not good and grabbed by Biyendolo to force overtime.
 
Overtime Action
 
The Bobcats scored the first points of the overtime on a pair of free throws by Matej Delinac (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) with 4:31 left. Delinac would then make one of two tries to put Peru State up by three at 80-77 at the 3:37 mark in the OT.
 
The Pioneers would get back within one at 80-79 before Hexom put in a bucket off an assist from Delinac with 2:48 to go. MNU would be down later 83-81 scored again and the Pioneers would never get any closer as the Bobcats went on to win 90-83.

MIDAMERICA NAZARENE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Pioneers shot better from the floor and free throw line than Peru State, but the 'Cats still won. MNU made 32 of 73 field goals for 43.8% which included making 5 of 17 from long range for 29.4%. The Pioneers made 14 of 18 free throws for 77.8%. Peru State made 28 of 73 field goals for 38.4% and were actually better from behind the arc as they made 9 of 22 for 40.9%. The 'Cats had more than twice as many free throw attempts as they hit 25 of 39 for 64.1%.
 
MNU did grab more rebounds, 53 to 46, than Peru State. The Pioneers dished out 21 assists while the 'Cats had 16.

 
The Pioneers had six blocked shots while the Bobcats swatted away five MNU attempts. Peru State had nine steals while MNU finished with four.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Again the Bobcats finished with five players in double figures. Hexom had a game-high 28 points while Delinac added 18. Eboigbodin added 13 while Richardson had 11. Brackeen added ten points.
 
Hexom shared game-high honors in rebounding as he finished with a double-double on the night with 14 boards. Delinac grabbed eight while Eboigbodin finished with six.
 
Biyendolo dished out six assists while Eboigbodin and Brackeen each added three. Hexom finished with the team's five blocked shots and also added three steals as did Delinac. Brackeen added two steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play another Heart conference game on Tuesday night when they face Culver-Stockton in Canton, Mo., at 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats are 1-5 overall and are 0-2 in the Heart.
 
On Black Friday, the Bobcats will be in Sioux Falls, S.D., to face NCAA DII Augustana in what will be an exhibition game for Peru State, but a countable contest for the Vikings. Augustana is presently 3-1 having lost to Northwest Missouri State Thursday night. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
The 'Cats will then be back home for a conference match-up with William Penn (Iowa) on Monday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. The Statesmen are 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the Heart having dropped a game at Baker Saturday afternoon. William Penn was pre-season ranked third in NAIA DI.