(Peru, Neb.) – When the initial schedule was out for the 2017-18 Peru State men's basketball season, many wondered what was going on with two back-to-back games in faraway North Dakota.
 
Well, the wondering is over as the Bobcats came home with two victories as they captured their second game Wednesday night 79-70 over Mayville State in Mayville, N.D.
 
Peru State is 2-0 on the season while the Comets fell to 1-1. The 'Cats had to then come home through a storm in time to make it to classes Thursday.
 
First Half Action
 
Mayville State got on the board first and scored the first four points before LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.) hit a three-pointer off an assist from Seth Snoddy (Daly City, Calif.) with 17:29 on the clock. The Comets would continue a hot stretch as they would jump to an 11-point advantage at 18-7 with 13:16 to go in the first 20 minutes.

 
A bucket by Westbrook would stop that run and the Bobcats would eventually come back to tie it at 19-19 after Nolan Cass (Spring, Texas) made a pair of free throws with 9:54 on the clock. Cass would follow with a trey on an assist from Westbrook to give Peru State its first lead, but the Comets came right back to tie it with a three of their own.
 
Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) would hit a field goal at the 8:04 mark and the Bobcats would hold that lead until the Comets tied it at 33-33 with 2:04 left in the half. Dominque Bell (Houston) would make one of two free throws to break the tie, before Mayville hit a bucket with 73 seconds to go. Westbrook would get the final bucket of the half and Peru State led 36-35 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
 
The Comets scored the first bucket of the second half to regain the lead with a trey. Moore Jr. tied the game with a two-pointer with 18:56 left in the contest. Marcus Nolan (Casper, Wyo.) broke the tie with a field goal on Peru State's next possession.
 
The Bobcats built their lead to six at 45-39 after Cass hit a three pointer with 16:10 on the clock. But, Mayville was not done as they came back to tie it at 45-45.
 
After the game was tied at 47-47, a bucket by Moore Jr. and a trey by Cass put the 'Cats up by five at 52-47.
 
Peru State would extend that lead to 13 at 62-49 after Quantice Hunter (Chicago) hit a bucket with 5:53 remaining in the contest.

 
The Comets would get within seven later at 72-65 with 1:26 left, but could not get any closer.

MAYVILLE STATE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
While Peru State did not shoot as well as they did the night before, they still shot better than their opponents. The Bobcats made 31 of 75 field goals for 41.3% which included making six of 21 three-point tries for 28.6%. At the free throw line, Peru State made 11 of 19 for 57.9%.
 
Mayville State made 23 of 70 field goals for 32.9% and connected on 11 of 36 three-point tries for 30.6%. The Comets made 13 of 20 free throws for 65%.
 
Mayville did outrebound Peru State 54-47 and had 14 assists while the 'Cats finished with 11. Peru State did force 24 Comet turnovers while only committing 13. Both teams blocked three shots. The 'Cats had 11 steals compared to six for the Comets.
 
Individual Statistics
 
For the second-straight night, Peru State had four players in double figures. Westbrook led the team with 17 points while Hunter and Cass each finished with 14. Moore Jr. added ten points with Nolan being one shy of double figures.

 
Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) finished with game-high rebounding honors as he grabbed 11 rebounds. Westbrook grabbed eight and Hunter finished with five.
 
Hunter dished out a game-high five assists while Westbrook handed out four. Vasa blocked two shots while Snoddy was credited with one block.
 
Westbrook had a game-high four steals while Hunter, Nolan, and Moore Jr. each had two steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will be participating in the Northwestern (Iowa) Classic in Orange City, Iowa, next weekend after recuperating from their long trip to North Dakota. On Nov. 10 at 4 p.m., the 'Cats will face Dordt (Iowa). The Defenders started their season Wednesday night with a 110-92 win over Dakota State (S.D.) and will play three more games before facing Peru State.
 
On Saturday, Nov. 11, the Bobcats will face the tournament hosts at 4 p.m. The Red Raiders have not started their season, but will play three games before taking on the 'Cats.
 
Peru State's first home game will not be until Saturday, Dec. 2, when they host William Penn (Iowa) at 4 p.m.