(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State men's basketball team played the Columbia (Mo.) Cougars close through the first 24 minutes in Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday. However, the tourney hosts would expand their lead to double digits and went on for an 88-77 win in Columbia to earn their eighth win of the season against no losses.
 
The Cougars were pre-season ranked seventh in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll released in October. Peru State fell to 3-4 with the loss.
 
First Half Action
 
The Bobcats kept it pretty close throughout the first half. After the Cougars scored the first bucket of the game, Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) hit a bucket in the paint to tie the game at 2-2 at the 18:57 mark. Quantice Hunter (Chicago) gave Peru State the lead at 4-2 only to see Columbia tie it. With 17:53 left in the first half, Marcus Nolan (Casper, Wyo.) hit a trey on an assist from Moore Jr. The Cougars would tie it with a three-pointer of their own.
 
Moore Jr. would make one of two free throws to put the 'Cats up 8-7, but with 16:36 the Cougars hit a trey and never trailed after that point. Columbia would extend its lead to ten several times and with 10:30 left in the half, the Cougars led 22-12. Back-to-back treys by LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.) and Nolan Cass (Spring, Texas) pulled Peru State within four at 22-18 with 9:02 remaining.
 
Later in the half at the 5:18 mark, the 'Cats had pulled within three at 31-28 on a bucket by Hunter in the paint. But, that would be as close as the Bobcats would be the rest of the game.
 
At halftime, the Cougars led 47-36.
Second Half Action
 
Baskets by Moore Jr. and Westbrook got the 'Cats within seven at 47-40 with 17:22 remaining on the clock. Peru State later was still within seven at 51-44 after a pair of free throws by Nolan with just over 16 minutes to go.
 
Back-to-back treys by the Cougars gave them a double-digit lead – one they would not relinquish the rest of the contest. Columbia led by as many as 18 at 71-53 with 9:19 left in the game.
 
Peru State would get back within ten at 71-61 after Seth Snoddy (Daly City, Calif.) made a pair of free throws, but the 'Cats could never get back under a ten-point deficit.

COLUMBIA GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Cougars had a hot night from the floor as they made 28 of 54 field goals for 51.9% which included making eight of 17 for 47.1% from behind the arc. At the charity stripe, Columbia made 24 of 31 for 77.4%. Peru State made 23 of 60 for 38.3% and connected on seven of 26 from long range for 26.9%. The 'Cats made 24 of 27 free throws from 88.9%.
 
The rebounding was close as the Cougars had 35 while Peru State finished with 33. Both teams finished with six assists. The Bobcats had two more turnovers as they finished with 13 miscues.
 
Peru State blocked two shots while Columbia had one. The Cougars finished with seven steals while the 'Cats had four.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Both teams had four players finishing in double figures. Cass led the Bobcats with 17 points which included making five of ten three-point attempts. Moore Jr. added 15 points while Hunter and Westbrook each had 13 points.
 
Cass had a game-high seven rebounds while Paulius Sakinis (Klaipeda, Lithuania) added six and Snoddy had five as did Westbrook.
 
Hunter and Moore Jr. each had three assists. Sakinis and Moore Jr. each were credited with a blocked shot. Cass led the team with two steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will be on the road Wednesday when they head to Marshall, Mo., to face Missouri Valley at 7:30 p.m. in both teams' first Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) match-up. The Vikings are 6-2 on the season with their last game being a loss to the Bobcats' last foe – Columbia – 97-88 on Nov. 21.
 
On Saturday, the 'Cats will host their first Heart game against the third-ranked William Penn (Iowa) Statesmen at 4 p.m. William Penn is now 10-0 on the year and will face Mount Mercy (Iowa) on Wednesday before heading to Peru State.