(Peru, Neb.) – The Missouri Baptist men's basketball team was hot in the first half and was even hotter in the second half as they pulled away for a 114-89 win over Peru State Friday night. This game was part of the Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Columbia College in Columbia, Mo.
 
The Spartans improved to 6-0 on the season while Peru State fell to 3-3.
 
First Half Action
 
After the Spartans scored first, LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.) hit a bucket in the paint to tie it at 2-2 at the 18:04 mark. Missouri Baptist would lead by six on two different occasions at 8-2 and then at 13-7. With 14:53 on the clock Nolan Cass (Spring, Texas) hit a three-pointer to pull the Bobcats within three at 13-10. After Mo Baptist hit another hoop to go up 15-10, Westbrook nailed a trey to make it 15-13 with 13:51 left in the first half. On Peru State's next possession, Westbrook hit another trey to put Peru State ahead 16-15 at the 13:27 mark. For the 'Cats, that would be the only time they would lead in the contest.  
The 'Cats kept it close and later tied it at 29-29 on a two-pointer by Westbrook with 7:02 left in the first 20 minutes. The Spartans would score the next nine points and never trailed the rest of the game. At the end of the first half, Missouri Baptist led 50-42.
 
Second Half Action
 
The Bobcats were able to keep it within ten points for about the first seven minutes of the second half. After the Spartans scored the first bucket of the second stanza, Quantice Hunter (Chicago) hit a trey off an assist from Marcus Nolan (Casper, Wyo.) and then Nolan drained a three-pointer off an assist from Westbrook. Peru State was within four at 52-48 at the 18:37 mark.
 
Missouri Baptist extended their lead to double digits at 64-54 with 12:42 left and Peru State would not get any closer after that point.
 
The Spartans led by as many as 32 at 98-66 with 5:38 remaining in the game.
 
Westbrook would score the final Peru State points of the game with 16 seconds left for the final score of 114-89.

MISSOURI BAPTIST GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball well, but the Spartans shot it particularly well. Mo Baptist made 39 of 68 field goals for 57.4% and made 12 of 20 from long range for 60%. The Spartans connected on 24 of 30 free throws for 80%. Peru State hit 32 of 66 field goals for 48.5% and made 11 of 28 from behind the arc for 39.3%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats made 14 of 18 for 77.8%.
 
Another difference in the contest was the rebounding as Missouri Baptist dominated the boards 41-24. The Spartans had 17 assists compared to 12 for the Bobcats.
 
Peru State had 14 turnovers while Mo Baptist finished with 15. The Spartans blocked three shots while the 'Cats finished with two. The Bobcats had nine steals while Missouri Baptist finished with five.
Individual Statistics
 
Hunter finished tied with game-high honors as he scored 29 points which included making all seven of his free throws. Westbrook added 22 points on eight of 12 shooting while Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) added 14 points.
 
Dominique Bell (Houston) led the team with five rebounds while Nolan and Moore Jr. each finished with four boards.
 
Westbrook tied for game-high honors with four assists while Nolan, Paulius Sakinis (Klaipeda, Lithuania), and Moore, Jr. each added two.
 
Sakinis and Bell each blocked one shot. Hunter had game-high honors with four steals while Westbrook grabbed three.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play is second game in the Classic at 3 p.m. on Saturday against the tourney hosts. The pre-season's seventh-ranked Cougars are also perfect on the season at 7-0 having topped Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) colleague of the Bobcats – Culver-Stockton (Mo.) 92-73 on Friday night.
 
The Bobcats will open Heart action on Wednesday night, Nov. 29, when they travel to Marshall, Mo., to face Missouri Valley at 7:30 p.m. The Vikings are 6-2 and lost to Columbia in their lost contest 97-88.
 
Peru State's first home Heart game will be on Saturday, Dec. 2, and will host pre-season third-ranked William Penn (Iowa) Statesmen at 4 p.m. William Penn is presently 9-0 on the year.