(Peru, Neb.) – The Bobcat men's basketball team captured their Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) opener Wednesday night on the road over Missouri Valley in Marshall, Mo. Peru State topped the Vikings 70-64.
 
The 'Cats improved to 4-4 overall and 1-0 in the Heart while Mo Valley fell to 6-3 and 0-1 in the conference.
 
First Half Action
 
Quantice Hunter (Chicago) put Peru State on the board first with a bucket in the paint at the 19:29 mark and the 'Cats never trailed after that point. Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) followed with a two-pointer on an assist from Hunter.

 
Peru State would jump out to a 13-3 lead after LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.) hit a bucket at the 14:06 point in the first half.
 
Later in the first half, the 'Cats would match their largest lead of 13 after Moore Jr. made a pair of free throws to put Peru State up 40-27 with 3:48 remaining in the first 20 minutes.
 
Mo Valley would cut the deficit to eight at 42-34 before the Bobcats would later close out the first half with a basket by Moore Jr. to lead 47-36 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
 
After the Vikings hit one of two free throws to start the second half, Dominique Bell (Houston) hit a basket in the paint for Peru State to make the score 49-37 with 19:20 left. This would be the largest lead the Bobcats would have in the second half.
 
Peru State would maintain its single-digit lead throughout the second half. Mo Valley would pull within three at 58-55 after the Vikings would make a pair of free throws at the 6:26 mark.
 
The 'Cats would eventually stretch their lead to ten again at 65-55 after Hunter completed an old-fashioned three-point play with just under four minutes left in the game.
 

The closest the Vikings would get would be at the end with the final score of 70-64.

MISSOURI VALLEY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball well during the contest. The Bobcats made 27 of 54 field goals for 50% including hitting four of 16 from long range for 25%. Peru State connected on 12 of 17 free throws for 70.6%. Missouri Valley made 22 of 51 field goal tries for 43.1% and were almost as good from behind the arc as they made eight of 20 for 40%. The Vikings made 12 of 21 charity tosses for 57.1%.
 
Peru State had the edge in rebounding as they finished with 36 while the Vikings had 28. Mo Valley had one more assist than the 'Cats as the Vikings finished with ten dimes.
 
Each team had trouble handling the ball as Peru State finished with 23 turnovers while the Vikings had 21. Missouri Valley blocked three shots while the 'Cats were credited with one. The Bobcats had only eight steals while Mo Valley had 15.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures and they were led by Hunter who had a game-high 24 points on nine of 15 shooting. Moore Jr. added 14 while Westbrook added ten.
 
Westbrook and Seth Snoddy (Daly City, Calif.) each grabbed seven rebounds while Bell added six.

 
Marcus Nolan (Casper, Wyo.) had a game-high four assists while Hunter and Westbrook each finished with two. Nolan was credited for Peru State's blocked shot. Hunter had three steals while Westbrook and Nolan were each credited with two.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats will host one of the top teams in the country on Saturday in their Heart matchup at 4 p.m. The third-ranked William Penn Statesmen will visit the AWAC and come to Peru with a perfect 11-0 mark which include their Heart opening win over Mount Mercy.
 
Peru State was to have then traveled to face Grace University on Wednesday in Omaha but the University has cancelled their men's program. The 'Cats will get a forfeit for this contest.
 
On Saturday, Dec. 9, the Bobcats will be in Atchison, Kan., to take on Benedictine at 4 p.m. The Ravens are 6-3 currently and won their conference opener Wednesday night over MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.).