(Peru, Neb.) – It took overtime the first time the teams met with the visitors winning. It took overtime the second time the teams met with the visitors winning. On the second meeting, the MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) University (MNU) Pioneers came into the Al Wheeler Activity Center in Peru and took the win 105-104 over the Peru State Bobcats.
 
This was a battle between two of the three teams tied at the top of the Heart of America Athletic Conference and now MNU is tied at the top with William Penn (Iowa) University who also won Wednesday night. The Pioneers and William Penn are both 13-4 in conference play with five games remaining. Overall, MNU is now 19-6 and have won ten straight. Peru State fell to 16-9 overall and 12-5 in the Heart which puts them one game behind the top two teams and solely in third place.

 
First Half Action
 
After the Pioneers scored first to get on the board at the 19:19 mark, a three-point bucket by Corday Sims (Chicago) off an assist from Quantice Hunter (Chicago) made it 3-2 with 17:50 to go in the first half. Peru State would end up maintaining the lead through the rest of the first half after that point.
 
The teams would play close for the next ten minutes until the 'Cats went on a little run to take their first double-digit lead at 35-25 when Hunter had a three-pointer for himself coming on an assist from Rich Shepherd (Greenville, N.C.).
 
Later, the 'Cats had the lead up to 14 when leading 49-35 after Shepherd drained a trey with 2:14 left in the first 20 minutes.
 
MNU would hit a three-pointer as the first half closed with Peru State still leading by ten at 51-41.
 
Second Half Action
 
The Pioneers would outscore Peru State 12-4 to cut the lead to two at 55-53 with 16:34 remaining in the game. Sims would hit an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Bobcats a five-point cushion and then extended it to an eight-point lead on the Bobcats' next possession as he hit another trey. With 15:53 left in the final half, Peru State led 61-53.
 
MNU would forge the first tie of the second half at 63-63. Riak Bol (Omaha) would get a bucket to put the 'Cats back on top, but the Pioneers would knot it again at 65-65.

 
Jeff Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Hunter would get back-to-back buckets to put Peru State up by four at 69-65 at the 12:30 mark.  Peru State would hold onto the lead until 6:26 was on the clock when the Pioneers would force the third tie of the game at 81-81.
 
The Pioneers would then take the lead and eventually led by four at 88-84 with 4:27 left in the game. Kris Frazier (Cleveland) would hit a pair of free throws and then would later grab an offensive rebound and put it back in to tie it at 88-88 with 2:31 left.
 
After MNU would hit one of two free throws to take the lead, Hunter would later make one of two free throws to tie it at 89-89.
 
Both teams would miss opportunities to win it in regulation forcing the overtime.
 
Overtime Action
 
Frazier would start the scoring in the second half as he again grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in to give Peru State the early lead at 91-89.
 
After the game was tied at 91-91, it would be tied again at 93-93 with 3:33 left in the first OT. A Sims' trey on an assist from Hunter put the Bobcats up 96-93 but the Pioneers were not going to lie down. Eventually, MNU tied the game again at 99-99 and then followed that with a three-pointer of their own to make it 102-99 with time left on the clock.
 
After a Bobcat miss, Peru State had to foul and MNU made just one of two to extend the lead to 103-99. Sims would score to cut the deficit to two, but the 'Cats would have to foul again. This time the Pioneers hit both to go up 105-101. With one second on the clock, Sims would hit a three to make the final score 105-104.

MIDAMERICA NAZARENE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams were hot from the floor and did as well from long range. However, both teams left points off the board by not having their best nights at the free throw line.

 
MNU hit 39 of 79 field goals for 49.4% which included a very hot 9 of 14 from behind the arc for 64.3%. At the free throw line, the Pioneers made 18 of 30 for 60%. Peru State made 38 of 76 tries for 50% and had 11 of 23 from three-point range for 47.8%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats made 17 of 28 for 60.7%.
 
Peru State had a decided edge in rebounding as they pulled down 47 rebounds while the Pioneers had 30 boards. MNU dished out 18 assists while the 'Cats had 12. Peru State did commit more turnovers than usual as they had 22 with the Pioneers having 12. The Bobcats doubled up the Pioneers in blocked shots as the 'Cats swatted away eight shots while MNU had four blocked shots. Both teams had ten steals.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Sims had a career-high 42 points, but it was not enough to overcome five Pioneers scoring in double figures. Sims was 14 of 31 which included 8 of 13 from long range.
 
Also scoring double figures for Peru State were Frazier – 18, Hunter – 14, and Bol – 12.
 
Frazier had a career-high and game-high 15 rebounds to finish with a double-double. Bol just missed a double-double as he had nine boards while Sims grabbed eight.
 
Hunter dished out five assists with Shepherd handing out two. Bol blocked three shots while Frazier and Hunter were each credited with two. Shepherd and Sims each finished with three steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The 'Cats will travel on Saturday to face Missouri Valley College in Marshal, Mo., at 4 p.m. The Vikings are 12-13 overall and 7-10 in the Heart having lost their last two conference games.
 
Next Wednesday, Peru State will be heading to Des Moines, Iowa, to take on Grand View University at 7:30 p.m. The Vikings are 12-12 and 6-11 in the Heart having snapped a three-game losing streak Wednesday night by defeating Missouri Valley on their home court.