(Peru, Neb.) – After the first half finished in a tie, the Graceland University Yellowjackets came up with a big second half on their way to upsetting the Bobcat men's basketball team Wednesday night. The 'Jackets took a 93-80 victory over Peru State on their home court in Lamoni, Iowa.
With the win, Graceland improved to 13-10 overall and 8-7 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Peru State fell to 14-8 on the season and 11-4 in conference play and are now in a tie for second with MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.). The Bobcats and Pioneers are both one game behind William Penn in the conference standings.
First Half Action Similar to the women's contest, the Graceland men started the game with an 8-0 run before
Jeff Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit a trey on an assist from
Darwin Ellis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to make it 8-3 with 17:33 on the clock in the first half. Neverson would later dish an assist to
Corday Sims (Chicago) who also hit a three-pointer and Peru State was back within two at 8-6 at the 17:10 mark. After a Graceland bucket,
Kris Frazier (Cleveland) got in the scorebook with a bucket on an assist from Neverson and later Frazier would grab an offensive rebound and knotted the game at 10-10 with 15:10 left in the first half.
Kris Frazier had a career-
high 22 points and game-
high 11 rebounds Graceland would go back in the lead and led by as many as nine at 27-18 with 8:31 left in the first 20 minutes before Peru State would fight its way back to a tie. A
Jamar Cannon (Inglewood, Calif.) three-pointer off an assist from
Rich Shepherd (Greenville, N.C.) would tie the game with 5:20 on the clock.
Later, another Cannon trey, off an assist from
Quantice Hunter (Chicago) put Peru State in the lead for the first time at 35-34 with 2:49 to go in the half. Hunter would then dish the ball to
Riak Bol (Omaha) and the Bobcats had their largest lead of the half at 37-34 at the 2:04 mark. Graceland would tie it with a trey, but the Bol-Hunter combination would come through again to put the 'Cats up 39-37. The Yellowjackets drained a three-pointer to go back up only to see Bol get another bucket inside, this time on an assist from Cannon. With seconds remaining, Peru State led 41-40. However, a late foul put Graceland at the line with the Yellowjacket making just one of three free throws to force a halftime tie at 41-41.
Second Half Action The second half would see numerous ties as the contest was tied at 43-43, 45-45, 48-48, 55-55, 59-59, and finally 63-63 with 8:59 left in the game.
It was at that point that Graceland went on a 9-0 run to go up 72-63 with 6:50 left in the contest. Later, Peru State would get back within four at 78-74 after Frazier completed an old-fashioned three-point play with 3:34 remaining in the game.
Another 9-0 run by the Yellowjackets salted away the game for Graceland as they led 87-74 with 1:29 to go.
Riak Bol had 13 points
and blocked on shotGRACELAND GAME BOOK Team Statistics Graceland made 30 of 62 field goals for 48.4% which included making 11 of 25 from behind the arc for 44%. At the free throw line, the 'Jackets made 22 of 33 for 66.7%. Peru State hit 29 of 68 field goals for 42.6%, but were uncharacteristically cold from long range making just 5 of 30 three-point attempts for 16.7% including not hitting any in the second half. The Bobcats also were cooler than normal at the free throw line making just 17 of 30 for 56.7%.
The Bobcats did hold a rebounding edge at 47-37 in the contest. Peru State had 15 assists while Graceland finished with 12. The Yellowjackets committed 15 turnovers while the 'Cats had 17. Peru State blocked four shots while Graceland had one. The 'Jackets stole 11 Bobcat passes with Peru State managing just three steals.
Individual Statistics Four Bobcats finished in double figures with Frazier scoring a career-high 22 points on 10 of 11 shooting from the floor and making 7 of 8 free throws. Bol added 13 with Cannon and Sims finishing with 12 and 11 respectively.
Jamar Cannon had 12
points and five assists Frazier finished with a double-double as he grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Hunter added nine with Sims adding seven.
Hunter and Cannon each dished out five assists with Neverson adding two. Frazier blocked two shots while Neverson and Bol each blocked one. Hunter had two steals with Neverson credited for the other steal.
Upcoming Games The Bobcats have four games coming up in a seven-day span. On Saturday, Peru State will host Culver-Stockton College at 4 p.m. Currently, the Wildcats are 9-14 overall and 5-10 in the Heart having dropped a one-point contest to Central Methodist Wednesday night. The Bobcats defeated the Wildcats earlier in December 98-70 in Canton, Mo.
It will be Western Day on Saturday and Peru State's Student Athlete Advisory Council is encouraging everyone to dress up for a chance to win a Bobcat prize package.
Monday night, the 'Cats will travel to Omaha to play their final non-conference game of the season. Peru State will take on future NAIA opponent Grace University at 7 p.m. The Royals are 11-13 on the season.
Then, on Wednesday, the Bobcats will be hosting MidAmerica Nazarene University at 7:30 p.m. The Pioneers have won eight in a row and are now 17-6 overall and 11-4 in the Heart – tied with the 'Cats in second. Earlier in January, Peru State topped the Pioneers in Olathe, Kan., 97-94.
Finally, Peru State will travel to Marshall, Mo., next Saturday, Feb. 13, to take on the Vikings at 4 p.m.
