(Peru, Neb.) – At this point in the season, every win is a must win if you are in the hunt for a conference title. And win is what the Bobcat men's basketball team did when they held on for a 99-95 Heart of America Athletic Conference win over Grand View University in Des Moines Wednesday night.
 
Peru State improved to 18-9 overall and more importantly 14-5 in the Heart with the victory. The 18 wins matches the Bobcats' win total of last year which has been the most since the 2002-03 season where Peru State won 21. Grand View fell to 12-14 and 6-13 in conference play.

 
After Wednesday night's Heart conference action, the Bobcats found themselves in a tie for second with William Penn (Iowa) University as the Statesmen fell to Graceland (Iowa) University. The two teams are one game behind MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) University which won its 12^th-straight game Wednesday and are now in sole possession of first place with three games remaining.
 
First Half Action
 
Jamar Cannon (Inglewood, Calif.) started the scoring with a three-pointer at the 19:03 mark coming off an assist from Darwin Ellis (Brooklyn, N.Y.). After a Viking bucket, Ellis hit a layup in the paint to make it 5-2. Grand View would tie it with a trey and then scored the next six points as well to lead 11-5.
 
A Riak Bol (Omaha) layup on an assist from Ellis stopped the run to make it 11-7 at the 14:51 mark. Bol was fouled on the play and hit the layup to cut it to 11-8. On the next Peru State possession, it was Bol from Ellis for another score and with 14:21 left in the half, Grand View led 11-10.
 
After a Grand View score, Bol would score in the paint again, this time on an assist from Quantice Hunter (Chicago). Ellis would score on Peru State's next time down the court and from that point on, the Bobcats would lead for the rest of the game.
 
With 7:32 left in the half, the second made free throw by Jeff Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) would give Peru State a double-digit lead at 33-23. The Bobcats would outscore the Vikings 17 to 5 the rest of the half with Neverson hitting a trey on an assist from Hunter to put the 'Cats up 50-28 at halftime.

 
Second Half Action
 
During the first five minutes of the second half, Grand View had cut into the lead and only trailed 55-45.
 
Later, with 12:26 to go, Corday Sims (Chicago) hit a pair of free throws and Peru State was leading by 18 at 65-47. With just under ten minutes to go, the Vikings had fought back to just a ten-point deficit at 70-60 and then hit a trey to cut it to seven with 9:33 left in the game.
 
An Ellis trey would later put Peru State up by at 11 at 75-64 with 7:38 to go. But, the Vikings would not go away. With 5:09 left in the game, Grand View was back within seven at 81-74. Sims would hit a pair of free throws and follow it with a trey to put the 'Cats back up by 86-74 at the five-minute mark.
 
With 35 ticks left on the clock, Grand View was within four at 95-91. Kris Frazier (Cleveland) would get a dunk and later would make a free throw to increase Peru State's lead to 98-91. The Vikings would get a bucket to cut the lead to five, but had to foul. Ellis would hit one of two free throws to make it 99-93. Grand View would finish the game with a pair of free throws, but the Bobcats had prevailed.
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State made 32 of 60 free throws for 53.3% which included making 10 of 22 three-point attempts for 45.5%. The Bobcats made 38 trips to the free throw line and made 25 for 65.8%. The Vikings made 36 of 79 field goals for 45.6% and connected on 12 of 29 treys for 41.4%. Grand View hit 11 of 16 at the charity stripe for 68.8%.

 
The Bobcats grabbed 43 rebounds compared to 36 for Grand View. The Vikings had one more assist than Peru State as they finished with 17. Both teams blocked two shots. Peru State had 15 turnovers while the Vikings finished with only six. Grand View was credited with four steals while the Bobcats had two.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Sims finished with a game-high 33 points on 9 of 16 shooting while making 6 of 9 from behind the arc. Neverson had 16 points with Frazier adding 15. Ellis and Bol each contributed 13 points in the win.
 
Frazier and Sims both finished with double-doubles as Frazier had a game-high 11 rebounds while Sims added ten. Neverson grabbed seven boards.
 
Ellis dished out six assists with Sims adding four. Frazier and Bol were each credited with one blocked shot. Ellis had the two lone steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State's next must-win game is this coming Saturday when the Bobcats host Avila (Mo.) University during part of the Foundation's Annual Alumni Chili Feed. Game time with the Eagles will be approximately 4 p.m. The Eagles, who are 18-9 overall and 11-8 in the Heart, are tied with Graceland (Iowa) University for fourth place in the conference. They are three games behind Peru State. With a win, the Bobcats will be assured of hosting a quarter-final game on March 2.
 
Also on Saturday, Peru State will be recognizing its fall sport student-athletes between games. Plus, at halftime of each game, the Fantastic Flyers of Gary's Tumbling will be performing.
 
Next Wednesday, the Bobcats will travel to Baldwin City, Kan., to take on Baker University at 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats are 12-14 overall and are 8-11 in the Heart.