(Peru, Neb.) – It was deadlocked after the first half at 44-44. In the second half, the visiting Mustangs of Mount Mercy (Iowa) outscored the Peru State men's basketball team by 11 to take an 89-78 win in the Al Wheeler Activity Center on Jan. 14.
 
With the win, Mount Mercy, one of newcomers to the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) this season, improved to 10-6 overall and 9-4 in Heart play. The 'Cats fell to 5-12 overall and 4-9 in conference action.

 
First Half Action
 
After the Mustangs scored the first bucket of the game, Rashad Brackeen (Oakland, Calif.) hit a trey off an assist from Paulius Sakinis (Klaipeda, Lithuania) with 19:25 on the clock to put the 'Cats up 3-2. Mount Mercy would hit another bucket to regain the lead before Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) hit a bucket on an assist from Brandon Eboigbodin (Nashville) to put Peru State back up 5-4. Eboigbodin would complete an old-fashioned three-point play to give the 'Cats an 8-4 lead at the 18:13 point in the half.
 
The Mustangs would score the next seven points to lead 11-8 before Matej Delinac (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) nailed a trey coming on an assist from Brackeen to knot the game at 11-11 with 15:26 left. Mount Mercy would regain the lead with a trey and then led for most of the rest of the half after leading by as many as nine points at 39-30.
 
Peru State pulled back within three at 44-41 after Brackeen hit another trey off an assist from Biyendolo with 1:21 left. Another trey, this time from Justin Neyland (Council Bluffs, Iowa) off an assist from Brackeen would tie the game at 44-44 with 20 seconds left.
 
Second Half Action
 
The Mustangs scored the first five points of the second half before Eboigbodin put the Bobcats on the board in the bucket in the paint with 17:44 left in the game. Sakinis followed with an old-fashioned three-point play with the basket coming off an assist from Brackeen to tie the game at 49-49 with 17:01 on the clock.
 
The game would again be tied at 55-55 as Eboigbodin knotted the score with 13:51 remaining in the contest. That would be the last time the game was tied as Mount Mercy would go on a 15-5 run to lead by ten at 70-60 with 8:10 left in the game.

 
Later, Peru State would fight back to close within three at 75-72 after Biyendolo made one of two free throws with 4:02 on the clock. But, the Mustangs would respond and eventually go up by 11 at 87-76 with 44 ticks on the clock before getting the 89-78 win.

MOUNT MERCY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
While Peru State shot the ball well, the Mustangs shot even better. Mount Mercy made 30 of 56 field goals for 53.6% which included hitting 14 of 27 three-point attempts for 51.9%. At the free throw line, the Mustangs were 15 of 20 for 75%. Peru State made 31 of 66 for 47% which normally would be a better shooting percentage. From behind the arc, the 'Cats made 9 of 22 of 40.9% and connect on 7 of 10 free throw tries for 70%.
 
The Bobcats had a slight rebound edge at 33-29. Mount Mercy dished out considerably more assists as they had 23 dimes compared to 14 for Peru State. The Bobcats blocked four shots and had six steals while Mount Mercy grabbed seven steals. The Mustangs had one more turnover than Peru State as they finished with 11 miscues.
 
Individual Statistics
 
The five Bobcat starters all finished in double figures and were led by Brackeen with 20 points with Sakinis adding 13. Eboigbodin and Biyendolo each had 11 while Delinac contributed ten.
 
Eboigbodin had another double-double as he grabbed a game-high ten boards. Brackeen and Biyendolo each added six rebounds. Brackeen dished out five assists while Biyendolo contributed four.
 

Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) had a game high two blocks while Sakinis and Biyendolo each blocked one. Eboigbodin and Biyendolo each had three steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The second half of the conference season starts Wednesday night for the Bobcats as they travel to Marshall, Mo., to face Missouri Valley. The Vikings topped the 'Cats 76-73 in November in Peru and presently are 9-6 overall and 7-5 in the Heart. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
 
On Saturday, Peru State will be in Springfield, Mo., to take on Evangel at 4 p.m. The 'Cats edged the Crusaders at home in November 86-84. Evangel is now 7-10 on the season and 4-9 in conference play.
 
Then, next Wednesday, the Bobcats will be in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to take on William Penn. The Statesmen are 14-2 overall and 10-2 in the Heart.