(Peru, Neb.) – When two teams who received votes in the NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll play, you would expect it to be close. That was the case on Saturday in Atchison, Kan., as the Benedictine Ravens nudged past Peru State 67-65.
 
With the win, Benedictine improved to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart.). The 'Cats fell to 4-6 overall and 3-4 in the Heart. It was Peru State's third conference loss in a row.
 
First Half Action
 
After Rashad Brackeen (Oakland, Calif.) hit a pair of free throws, the Ravens would get a pair of buckets and would take the lead for what would be good in the game.

 
Peru State would keep it close and trailed by only one at 14-13 with 12:31 to go in the first 20 minutes. But the Ravens would score the next seven points to extend their lead to 21-13 just a couple of minutes later.
 
The Ravens would lead by as many as nine at 26-17 with 8:24 left. Again, the 'Cats would make a run and a trey by Brackeen with 6:12 left would cut the lead to 28-26.
 
Benedictine would outscore Peru State 8-7 and had a three-point lead at the half at 36-33.
 
Second Half Action
 
In the first four minutes of the second half, the Ravens would jump to a 12-point advantage at 47-35. Benedictine would actually extend the lead to 15 at 52-37 with 11:43 left before the Bobcats would slowly start to work their way back in the game.
 
With 10:46 remaining, Brackeen would nail a trey off an assist from Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) to cut the deficit to nine at 52-43. Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) would follow with a three on an assist Brackeen and suddenly the 'Cats were back within six with 10:11 left in the contest.
 
Benedictine would increase their lead back to ten at 56-46 and still led by seven at 62-55 before Peru State would come back to eventually tie the game. Biyendolo would make one of two three throws as would Justin Neyland (Council Bluffs, Iowa) to pull the 'Cats to within five at 62-57 with 3:45 to go. Lyle Hexom (Omaha) would nail a trey on an assist from Brackeen to make it 62-60 at the 1:38 mark.

 
Neyland would get a bucket in the paint with 1:05 left to tie the game at 62-62. The Ravens would come back to score a pair of buckets to lead 66-62 before Vasa would make one of two free throws to make it 66-63. Vasa would rebound his miss on his second attempt and put it back up to cut the deficit to one at 66-65 with six seconds left. Peru State would immediately foul and Benedictine would make one of two. A long three-point attempt at the buzzer was not good and the Ravens held on for the 67-65 win.

BENEDICTINE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The teams had similar shooting percentages. The Ravens made 23 of 58 field goals for 39.7% and hit nearly the same from long range as they made 7 of 19 for 36.8%. Benedictine made 14 of 26 free throws for 53.8%. Peru State had identical shooting percentages for the field goals and three-point attempts. The 'Cats made 21 of 56 field goals and 9 of 24 from three-point range for 37.5%. The Bobcats made 14 of 21 free throws for 66.7%.
 
Peru State did outrebound the Ravens 42 to 37. Both teams had 11 assists. The 'Cats had trouble handling the ball as they had 19 turnovers while Benedictine had 12.

 
The Bobcats had three blocked shots and four steals while the Ravens finished with two blocks and 11 steals.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures. Brackeen and Matej Delinac (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) each had 16 points while Hexom added 14.
 
Brackeen finished with a double-double as he grabbed 13 rebounds. Paulius Sakinis (Klaipeda, Lithuania) grabbed five boards with Hexom, Delinac, and Neyland each adding four rebounds.
 
Brackeen dished out five assists while Biyendolo had three. Sakinis was credited with two blocked shots while Vasa added one. Hexom had two steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play a non-conference game Tuesday night when they travel to Bismarck, N.D., to face NCAA DII University of Mary. The Marauders are 3-5 overall having won Saturday night over Northern State (S.D.).
 
On Saturday, Dec. 10, the 'Cats will host its final game of the 2016 calendar year when the Clarke Crusaders of Dubuque, Iowa, come to the Al Wheeler Activity Center. The Heart newcomers are presently 3-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
As part of the Dec. 10 games, the Fantastic Flyers of Gary's Tumbling from Glenwood, Iowa, will perform at halftime of both the women's and men's games.