(Peru, Neb.) – The Bobcat men's basketball team fought off a stubborn Culver-Stockton (Mo.) team Monday night as they won 97-80 over the visiting Wildcats.
 
Peru State improved to 9-13 on the year and are now 8-10 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Wildcats dropped to 1-21 overall and are still winless in the Heart this season at 0-18.
 
First Half Action
 
The Wildcats scored the first bucket of the game and that would prove to be the only lead Culver-Stockton would have in the contest.

 
Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) made one of two free throws to make the score 2-1. Then, Biyendolo would dish the ball off to Rashad Brackeen (Oakland, Calif.) who hit a trey with 18:22 left in the first half to give the Bobcats a lead they would not relinquish.
 
At the 14:12 mark in the first half, Peru State had its first double-digit lead. Matej Delinac (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) hit a trey on an assist from Biyendolo and the Bobcats lead 20-8 at that point.
 
Peru State would have its largest lead at the 7:38 mark after Brackeen hit a bucket to make it 34-19. The Wildcats would fight back to the deficit to just eight points at 37-29 with 4:43 remaining in the first 20 minutes. A Biyendolo bucket would put the Bobcats back up by ten on the next time down the court.
 
The halftime score was 48-38 in favor of the Bobcats.
 
Second Half Action
 
The Wildcats would not go away as they closed the gap to seven at 52-45 with 16:46 left in the game. A bucket by Delinac and a three-pointer by Brackeen would put the Bobcats back up by double-digits at 57-45.
 
With 11:06 remaining, Culver-Stockton again closed the gap to seven points at 65-58, but could never get any closer. A bucket by Biyendolo, followed by a trey by Anthony Richardson (Schenectady, N.Y.) put Peru State back up by double digits at 70-58 with just over ten minutes left in the game.
 
Peru State's largest lead of the game came near the end when Brandon Eboigbodin (Nashville) made one of two free throws to make the score 97-78 with 39 seconds left. The Wildcats would score one last bucket before their coach called for no more fouls with Peru State winning 97-80.

CULVER-STOCKTON GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball well from the floor. Peru State made 29 of 58 field goals for 50% which included making 12 of 28 from long range for 42.9%. The Bobcats had one of their better nights at the free throw line making 27 of 33 attempts for 81.8%. Culver-Stockton connected on 34 of 72 field goals for 47.2% while making 6 of 23 from behind the arc for 26.1%. The Wildcats did struggle at the free throw line connecting on just 6 of 13 tries for 46.2%.

 
The Bobcats had a rebounding edge as they grabbed 36 boards compared to 25 for the Wildcats. Peru State doubled up Culver-Stockton on assists as they finished with 15 compared to just seven for the Wildcats.
 
It was a pretty clean game as both teams were below their season averages in turnovers. Peru State committed a season-low five turnovers while the Wildcats had just seven.
 
Peru State blocked two shots and had two steals while the Wildcats grabbed just two steals.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Biyendolo led Peru State with a season-high 20 points while Brackeen finished with 18 points. Delinac added 17 with Eboigbodin contributing 12.
 
Eboigbodin finished the game with a double-double as he had 14 rebounds to go with his 12 points. Biyendolo grabbed eight boards.
 
Biyendolo dished out a game-high seven assists while Eboigbodin added three. Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) was credited with two blocked shots and one steal while Justin Neyland (Council Bluffs) also had one steal.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats travel to Des Moines Thursday night to face the 17^th-ranked Grand View Vikings. Grand View pulled off a minor upset Monday night by topping fourth-ranked William Penn. The Vikings are 15-5 on the season and are now 14-4 in the Heart – just one-half a game behind William Penn.
 
On Saturday, Feb. 4, Peru State will host Benedictine (Kan.). at approximately 4:15 p.m. The Ravens, who were receiving votes in the most recent coaches' poll, have won six in a row and are 16-6 on the year and 13-5 in conference action – currently good for third place.
 
Saturday will be a busy day in the Al Wheeler Activity Center as it will also be the National Alumni Association's Annual Chili Feed. In addition, at halftime of both games, Gary's Tumbling's Fantastic Flyers will perform. Between games, the senior members of the cheer, women's basketball, and men's basketball teams will be recognized. That recognition will be followed with the presentation of honors for the fall student-athletes.
 
The chili feed will begin at 2:30 p.m. with a freewill donation going toward scholarships provided through the Foundation.