(Peru, Neb.) – The home-standing Dakota Wesleyan (DWU) team built a 15-point lead at halftime and then held on for a 97-87 win in the Mike Miller Classic. The Classic is being held in the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.
 
With the win, the Tigers improved to 13-5 while the Bobcats fell to 7-6.
 
First Half Action
 
Peru State started off with a four-point lead after Seth Snoddy (Daly City, Calif.) hit a bucket just nine seconds into the game off an assist from Quantice Hunter (Chicago). Hunter then stole the ball and took it to the hoop to make it 4-0. After the Tigers scored for the first time, Hunter hit another bucket, this time coming off an assist from LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.) with 18:16 left in the first half.

 
The Tigers would go on a 7-0 run to take a 9-6 lead before Westbrook hit a lay-up at the 14:33 mark in the first 20 minutes. Peru State would regain the lead on another bucket by Hunter and he would complete an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 11-9 with 13:53 left.
 
DWU would score the next four points to regain the lead before Marcus Nolan (Casper, Wyo.) hit a lay-up to tie it at 13-13 with 11:40 left in the half. Westbrook would score another bucket to give the 'Cats the lead again but they were quickly tied up by the Tigers. With 9:45 left in the half, Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) found the basket to put the Bobcats back up.
 
Later, Snoddy would tie it again at 21-21 with 7:44 to go in the half and after that point, DWU would go on to outscore Peru State 25-10 to take a 46-31 halftime lead.
 
Second Half Action
 
The Tigers would score the first bucket of the second half before Westbrook had a lay-up followed by two buckets by Hunter to pull the Bobcats within 11 at 48-37 with 18:19 remaining in the contest.
 
DWU would build their lead to as many as 18 on several occasions in the second half before Peru State would try to fight back. Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) hit a trey at the 9:27 mark to pull the 'Cats back within 15 at 72-57.
 
Peru State would go on an 11-2 run after that point that culminated with an old-fashioned three-point play by Westbrook to pull the Bobcats within seven at 74-67 at 7:16. The Tigers would hold on to that lead until Terry Moore Jr (Kansas City, Kan.) hit a pair of free throws with 3:19 on the clock to make it 86-81.
 
The 'Cats were still within five with 1:18 on the clock after Moore Jr. hit a lay-up to make it 92-87 but the Tigers would convert foul shots down the stretch. Peru State could not convert several shots down the stretch with DWU getting the win.
 
Team Statistics
 

Both teams shot the ball well. The Tigers made 31 of 59 field goals for 52.5%, but were a little cooler from behind the arc as they made just 5 of 23 for 21.7%. The difference came at the free throw line as DWU went to the stripe 21 more times and made 30 of 36 for 83.3%. Peru State made 35 of 70 field goals for 50% while going 4 of 11 from long range for 36.4%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats made 13 of 15 attempts for 86.7%.
 
DWU held a rebounding edge as they grabbed 29 boards compared to 22 for the Bobcats. The Tigers also dished out more assists as they had 20 while the 'Cats had 12. Both teams had nine turnovers. DWU blocked six shots while the Bobcats blocked only one. Peru State nabbed eight steals while the Tigers finished with three.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Hunter led four Bobcats who scored in double figures as he finished with 23 points on 9 of 17 shooting. Westbrook added 15 points while Moore Jr. and Snoddy each had 12 points.
 
Moore Jr. led the team with four rebounds while Hunter, Westbrook, Biyendolo, Vasa, and Allias Roberts-Burnett (Joliet, Ill.) each grabbed three boards.
 
Hunter dished out six assists while Westbrook and Biyendolo each handed out two assists. Paulius Sakinis (Klaipeda, Lithuania) blocked one shot. Westbrook grabbed three steals while Moore Jr. was credited with one.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats will face a familiar foe tonight in the Classic as they will take on the Dordt Defenders at 6 p.m. Peru State topped the Defenders early in the season 102-97 in overtime. Last night, Dordt defeated Dakota State (S.D.) 90-72 to improve to 9-8 on the year.
 
Peru State will resume Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) play on Wednesday, Jan. 3, when they travel to MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kan., to play at 7:30 p.m. The Pioneers are 8-4 on the season and are 1-2 in the Heart.