(Peru, Neb.) – After having the game postponed a day due to a blizzard, the NCAA Division University of Mary Marauders were not cold, but very hot, as they downed the Peru State Bobcat men's basketball team 96-78 Wednesday night.
 
With the win, the Marauders improved to 4-5 while the Bobcats fell to 4-7 after the non-conference game.
 
First Half Action
 
After the Marauders hit a trey to open the game, Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) hit a jumper at the 19:13 mark to put the 'Cats on the board. Mary would come back with a jumper of their own before Rashad Brackeen (Oakland, Calif.) would hit a trey to tie it at 5-5 with 18:40 left in the first half. Another Marauder jumper was countered by a layup by Brandon Eboigbodin (Nashville) at the 17:54 point.
 
Mary would then go on a 6-0 run and would lead for about the next minutes until Lyle Hexom (Omaha) drained a trey off an assist from Brackeen to tie the game at 29-29 with 6:37 left in the first half. A few seconds later, Hexom would make one of two free throws to put the 'Cats on top 30-29.
 
With 1:18 to go in the half, Peru State extended the lead to five at 41-36 after Brackeen hit a three-pointer. The Marauders would come back and score the final five points of the half to tie it at 41-41 after the first 20 minutes.
Second Half Action
 
Mary would start the second half on a 17-2 run and never looked back the rest of the game.
 
With 10:07 left in the contest, a pair of free throws by Anthony Richardson (Schenectady, N.Y.) pulled the 'Cats back within single digits at 64-55. But again the Marauders would go on a little run and the Bobcats would have to fight from behind.
 
A Hexom bucket with 6:38 again pulled the 'Cats within nine at 74-65. But, that would be as close as the Bobcats would come in the rest of the game.
 
MARY BOX SCORE

Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball well, but Mary was extremely hot as they made 37 of 72 field goals for 51.4% and the Marauders also made 11 of 22 from long range for 50%. At the free throw line, Mary made 11 of 17 for 64.7%. Peru State made 23 of 52 for 44.2% and connected on 8 of 23 from behind the arc for 34.8%. The Bobcats fared well from the free throw line making 24 of 32 of 75%.
 
The Marauders had a slight edge in rebounding as they had 36 compared to Peru State's 33. Mary dished out 26 assists while the 'Cats had just six. Peru State committed 16 turnovers while the Marauders had nine. The 'Cats blocked five shots while Mary swatted one Bobcat shot. Mary had 11 steals compared to five for Peru State.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats were in double figures and were led by Hexom with a game-high 24 points. Brackeen finished with 20 while Matej Delinac (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) added 13.
 
Hexom finished with a double-double as he had a game-high ten rebounds. Brackeen added five boards.
 
Brackeen dished out three assists while Biyendolo handed out two. Hexom blocked three shots while Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) blocked two. Biyendolo grabbed two steals to lead the team.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play their final game of 2016 on Saturday when they host league newcomer Clarke (Iowa) at 2 p.m. The Crusaders are currently 3-6 overall and are 2-5 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference having lost their last two conference match-ups.