(Peru, Neb.) – Excellent free throw shooting down the stretch by Bobcat LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.) led Peru State to one of its biggest wins in recent history on Saturday. In the last 89 seconds in the game, Westbrook made 11 of 12 free throws to help lead the Bobcats to a 100-91 win over the NAIA DI's third-ranked William Penn (Iowa) Statesmen.
 
With the win, Peru State improved to 5-4 on the season and 2-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Statesmen suffered their first loss of the season as they had won 11 in a row coming into Saturday's contest. WPU is 1-1 in the Heart.
 
First Half Action
 
William Penn scored the first bucket of the game, but the 'Cats came right back with a bucket by Quantice Hunter (Chicago) to tie it at 2-2 with 19:25 on the clock. A minute later, the Statesmen got a bucket to regain the lead at 4-2. On Peru State's next possession, Hunter drained a trey off an assist from Westbrook and the 'Cats took the lead for what surprisingly would be for the rest of the first

half.
 
Peru State would work their way out to a 14-point advantage at 36-22 after Westbrook hit a bucket in the paint off a fast break. This would be the largest lead of the contest for either team.
 
After that point, the Statesmen would pull within one at 44-43 at the 1:17 mark. Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) hit a pair of free throws with 31 ticks on the clock to extend Peru State's lead to 46-43 before WPU would hit a bucket to pull within one at 46-45 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
 
The Statesmen on a 10-3 run to take their largest lead of the game at 55-49 with 16:55 left in the second half. A trey by Hunter on an assist from Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) pulled the Bobcats to within three and then Westbrook hit a bucket in the paint to make it 55-54.
 
WPU would score the next three points to go back up 58-54 before Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) drained a trey off an assist from Westbrook at the 13:40 mark. On Peru State's next possession, Westbrook scored in the paint to put the 'Cats up 59-58 with 13:21 to go.
 
William Penn would then regain the lead and held the lead until there was nine minutes left in the game when Nolan Cass (Spring, Texas) hit a pair of free throws to tie it at 67-67. A bucket by Moore Jr. on an assist from Marcus Nolan (Casper, Wyo.) gave Peru State the lead.
 
A bucket by Moore Jr. in the paint broke the tie and Nolan followed with a two-pointer to make it 74-70. The 'Cats would continue to lead until the Statesmen would later tie it at 79-79 and again at 81-81 with 4:32 remaining.
 
The Statesmen would have their last lead of the game at 84-83 with 3:15 to go. Back-to-back field goals by Hunter would put the 'Cats up by three at 87-84.
 
Down the stretch, WPU would have to foul and then was whistled for two technical fouls. Westbrook would make 11 of 12 as the Bobcats would go on to win 100-91.

WILLIAM PENN GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State connected on 31 of 66 field goals for 47% which included hitting five of 13 from behind the arc for 38.5%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats made 33 of 40 for 82.5%. WPU hit 28 of 72 field goal tries for 38.9% and was six of 23 from long range for 26.1%. At the free throw line, the Statesmen made 29 of 36 for 80.6%.

 
William Penn held a slight rebounding edge as they grabbed 43 rebounds compared to 36 for the Bobcats. Both teams finished with nine assists.
 
Each team blocked five shots in the contest. The 'Cats had seven steals while WPU finished with five.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures with Westbrook leading the way with a career-high 30 points which included making 16 of 17 free throws. Hunter added 20 points while Moore Jr. finished with a season-high 19 points. Ten different 'Cats were in the scoring column.
 
Westbrook and Vasa led the team with six rebounds while Moore Jr. and Seth Snoddy (Daly City, Calif.) each added four.
 
Westbrook led the team with three assists while Biyendolo added two. Vasa blocked three shots while Hunter and Mike Lewandowski (Lincoln) each had one blocked shot. Westbrook had a game-high four steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State was to have played Grace University in Omaha on Tuesday night. However, the Royals have folded their program due to the school closing in the spring. The Bobcats will gain a forfeit win.
 
On Saturday, Dec. 9, the 'Cats will be heading to Atchison, Kan., to face the Ravens of Benedictine College at 4 p.m. The Ravens are off to a 7-3 start overall and are 2-0 in conference action with wins over MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and Avila (Mo.).
 
The Bobcats will have one more home game before the semester ends as they will host Friends (Kan.) on Friday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. The Falcons are 5-5 overall and are 3-2 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.