(Peru, Neb.) – For the second game in a row, the Peru State men's basketball team scored more than 100 points in a game. And the result was the same, another win. However, their 102-82 win over Evangel in Springfield, Mo., Saturday, was much easier than the earlier 104-102 win over Missouri Valley on Wednesday night.
 
This was the first time since the second and third games of the 2015-16 season that Peru State had scored more than 100 points in back-to-back contests. Both were wins.
 
With the win, Peru State improved to 7-12 overall and are now 6-9 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Crusaders dropped to 8-11 on the year and are now 5-10 in conference action, one game behind the 'Cats.

 
First Half Action
 
Evangel took control of the game early as they scored the first seven points before Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) put the 'Cats on the board with a bucket in the paint. The score came off an assist from Rashad Brackeen (Oakland, Calif.) at the 18:33 mark in the first half.
 
The Crusaders would again lead by seven at 12-5 with 16:48 remaining in the first twenty minutes before Peru State would go on a run. Brackeen would hit a trey coming off an assist from Brandon Eboigbodin (Nashville) to make it 12-8. After a two-pointer by the Crusaders, Brackeen would score again, this time a two-pointer of his own to make it 14-10 at the 14:40 mark.
 
After a Bobcat timeout, Biyendolo grabbed a defensive rebound which resulted in Brackeen hitting a trey to make it 14-13 at the 14:18 mark. Later, after Brackeen grabbed a defensive rebound, once down the court, he hit a two-pointer to give Peru State its first lead at 15-14 with 13:07 on the clock.
 
Later, after Evangel had regained the lead at 18-17, Justin Neyland (Council Bluffs) hit a trey to put the 'Cats up 20-18. Peru State never trailed after that point in the contest which was at 12:10 left in the first half.
 
With 6:55 left in the half, the Bobcats had their first ten-point lead at 34-24 after Brackeen drained another trey. Later, Peru State would still lead by ten at 44-34 after Allias Roberts-Burnett (Joliet, Ill.) hit a three-pointer at the 3:09 mark.

 
Evangel would cut a little into the lead before the half ended with Peru State leading 51-44.
 
Second Half Action
 
After Eboigbodin started the second half with a bucket in the paint to put the Bobcats up by nine at 53-44, Evangel would hit a couple of buckets to shorten the lead to five. With 18:47 left in the contest, this was as close as the Crusaders would get in the game.
 
A bucket by Eboigbodin in the paint, off an assist from Brackeen, would put Peru State back up by ten at 58-48 with 16:48 remaining.
 
The Bobcats would have their first 20-point advantage later when Eboigbodin would nail a trey with 9:19 left in the game. Peru State led 82-61 at that point.
 
Peru State would have its largest lead at 91-63 with 7:42 left when once again Brackeen hit from long range. The Crusaders would out-score the 'Cats 19 to 11 from that point on, but the Bobcats still won 102-82.

EVANGEL GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball very well in the game. Peru State had an excellent night as they made 40 of 69 field goals for 58% which included making 15 of 30 from behind the arc for 50%. The 'Cats made 7 of 10 charity attempts for 70%. Evangel connected on 37 of 67 field goals for 47.8% which included hitting 7 of 24 from long range for 29.2%. At the free throw line, the Crusaders made 11 of 13 for 84.6%.

 
The Bobcats had a slight rebounding advantage as they grabbed 34 boards compared to 31 for Evangel. The Crusaders were credited with 12 assists while Peru State had ten. Both teams had ten turnovers. Evangel was credited with one blocked shot. Peru State had six steals, one more than the Crusaders.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Brackeen had his second game in a row with more than 30 points as he finished with a game-high 34 points. He was 12 of 19 from the floor, including hitting 10 of 16 from long range. Neyland contributed 16 points while Eboigbodin and Paulius Sakinis (Klaipeda, Lithuania) each added 12. Roberts-Burnett and Biyendolo each contributed 11 points.
 
Eboigbodin just missed another double-double as he had a game-high nine rebounds while Brackeen grabbed six and Biyendolo nabbed five. Brackeen also had a game-high three assists while Eboigbodin and Brandon Reed (Omaha) each dished out two. Neyland and Eboigbodin were each credited with two steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will have a pair of tough contests this coming week. The Bobcats will be on the road Wednesday night when they face #4 William Penn in Oskaloosa, Iowa, at 7:30 p.m. The Statesmen are 16-2 overall and 12-2 in the Heart and are on a five-game winning streak. William Penn handed the 'Cats an 88-81 loss in December.
 
On Saturday, Jan. 28, the Bobcats will be back at home and will host MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) at 4 p.m. Peru State topped the Pioneers 90-83 back in November in overtime. MidAmerica Nazarene is presently 10-8 on the year and are 9-5 in the Heart.