(Peru, Neb.) – Coming off an overtime loss on Wednesday night, the Peru State men's basketball team responded with a win over the home-standing Missouri Valley College Vikings on Saturday afternoon in Marshall, Mo. The Bobcats defeated the Vikings 85-79.
 
With the win, the 'Cats improved to 17-9 overall and 13-5 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Peru State is just one game behind the league leaders – William Penn (Iowa) University and MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) University with four games to play in the regular season. Mo Valley fell to 12-14 overall and is now 7-11 in the Heart.

 
First Half Action
 
The Vikings jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Rich Shepherd (Greenville, N.C.) on an assist from Corday Sims (Chicago) hit a trey to put the 'Cats on the board at the 17:29 mark. A Sims defensive rebound on the next play would lead to another assist for Sims as Kris Frazier (Cleveland) would hit a bucket in the paint to make it 6-5.
 
Mo Valley would have their largest lead of the game at 15-9 with 14:36 left in the first 20 minutes. Frazier would start to cut into the Viking lead with a bucket, this time on an assist from Darwin Ellis (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Frazier would complete the old-fashioned three-point play as he was fouled on the play and it was 15-12 at that point. Another Sims to Frazier combination would make it 15-14 at the 13:13 point in the first half.
 
Peru State would take its first lead in the game as Sims would once again get the dime to Frazier. With 12:38 left in the first 20 minutes, the 'Cats now led 16-15. Sims would follow with a trey to put the Bobcats up 19-15 forcing a Viking timeout.
 
After the timeout, Sims would get another bucket on Peru State's next possession and the 'Cats led 21-15 at that point. Back-to-back threes by Mo Valley would tie the game at 21-21 with 9:51 remaining in the half. An Ellis trey would on an assist from Jeff Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) gave the Bobcats a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game.

 
The Bobcats' first double-digit lead came at 39-29 with 4:26 to go when Ellis hit another trey on an assist from Neverson. Shepherd would end the half with a bucket on an assist from Sims and Peru State led 44-35 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
 
Shepherd would start the second half scoring with a bucket which was later followed by a trey by Sims and Peru State was up 49-35 with 18:34 left in the game. A two-pointer by Quantice Hunter (Chicago) gave the 'Cats their largest lead at that point in the contest forcing Mo Valley to call a timeout with Peru State leading 51-35 with 17:51 to go.
 
Peru State would still lead by 16 at 57-41 after Frazier made a pair of free throws with 15:32 remaining in the contest.
 
With 11:37 to go, the Vikings had cut the deficit to single-digits at 60-53 and then cut it to just four on the next possession with another three-pointer. A pair of free throws put the 'Cats back up by six at 62-56 with 9:41 left.
 
Missouri Valley would get back within four at 64-60 before Sims drained a trey and then followed it up with a two-pointer in the paint coming off an assist from Shepherd. With 7:27 left, the Bobcats led 69-60.

 
Peru State stretched it out to 11 at 85-74 when Shepherd hit a three-pointer on an assist from Sims with 1:32 to go. Mo Valley would score five points to cut the deficit to six to close the game.

MISSOURI VALLEY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State made 29 of 64 field goals for 45.3% and were even better from behind the arc making 12 of 24 for 50%. At the free throw line, the Bobcats made 15 of 24 for 62.5%. Mo Valley made 29 of 83 field goals for 34.9% which included making 9 of 26 three-point attempts for 34.6%. The Vikings made 12 of 21 charity attempts for 57.1%.
 
The Bobcats grabbed 53 rebounds compared to the Vikings' 45. Peru State dished out 19 assists while the Vikings had 15. The 'Cats did turn the ball over 17 times while Mo Valley only had eight miscues. The Bobcats blocked four shots while Missouri Valley had one. The Vikings did grab nine steals compared to Peru State's four.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures and they were led by Sims who finished with a game-high 33 points on 9 of 19 shooting which included making 5 of 9 from long range. Frazier added 20 points with Shepherd finishing with a season-high 16 points.

 
Sims and Frazier both finished with double-doubles as Sims grabbed a game- and career-high 19 rebounds. Frazier had 12 boards with Riak Bol (Omaha) grabbed eight.
 
Sims just missed a triple-double as he dished out a game- and career-high nine assists. Ellis contributed three assists.
 
Bol and Frazier each had two blocked shots in the game. Shepherd had two steals while Sims and Ellis each had one.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will travel to face Grand View University in Des Moines Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. The Bobcats narrowly escaped with a win at home over the Vikings late in January 88-85. Grand View is presently 12-13 overall and 6-12 in conference play.
 
On Saturday, the 'Cats will host Avila University (Mo.) at 4 p.m. The Eagles are 10-8 in the Heart and 17-9 overall and are three games behind Peru State in conference play. Avila is tied for fourth with Graceland and is trying to secure a home game for the first round of post-season play which will begin Feb. 29. The Bobcats did defeat Avila earlier in the season on their home court 104-81.
 
Saturday's game will the Peru State Foundation's annual Alumni Chili Feed. The chili feed is open to the public and will begin at approximately 2:30 p.m. during the women's game. A freewill donation will be accepted for the chili feed.
 
At halftime of both games on Saturday, the fall sport student-athletes will be recognized for their athletic and academic achievements. Also, the Fantastic Flyers of Gary's Tumbling from Glenwood, Iowa, will perform.