(Peru, Neb.) – The old adage is that you want your team to be playing well at the end of the season. Right now that is what the Peru State men's basketball team is doing as they picked up the fourth win in a row with an 85-74 win over Avila (Mo.) Wednesday night. The four-game winning streak is the longest this season for the 'Cats.
 
With the win, Peru State is now 13-16 overall and 12-13 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Eagles fell to 5-24 on the season and are 5-20 in conference play.
The Bobcats have assured themselves of a post-season playoff berth, but their final seeding will not be determined until after Saturday's game at Mount Mercy (Iowa). Presently, Peru State is tied for eighth with Baker (Kan.) with 12-13 records in the Heart. With one game remaining, Baker holds the tie breaker over the 'Cats, even though the teams split during the regular season, as they have a win over league-leaders William Penn (Iowa).
 
First Half Action
 
Peru State had the early lead in the game as Brandon Eboigbodin (Nashville) score a bucket in the paint off an assist from Rashad Brackeen (Oakland, Calif.). The Eagles would counter with a trey before Matej Delinac (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) hit a field goal. Brackeen would make one of two free throws to make it 5-3 before the game saw its first tie at 5-5 with 16:12 left in the first half.

 
Avila would go on a 9-2 run forcing the 'Cats to call a timeout. Following the timeout, Eboigbodin hit a bucket on an assist from Brandon Reed (Omaha) which was followed by a trey by Anthony Richardson (Schenectady, N.Y.) off an assist from Eboigbodin pulled the 'Cats within two. Then, Eboigbodin scored a bucket on an assist from Richardson to tie it at 14-14 with 11:03 to go in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Bobcats would not gain the lead in the half as Avila led by as many as 11 at 41-30 with 2:18 to go in the half. Again, the 'Cats would come storming back and were within one at 41-40 after Allias Roberts-Burnett (Joliet, Ill.) hit a three off an assist from Eboigbodin. The Eagles would get a bucket right at the end of the half to lead 43-40 after 20 minutes.
 
Second Half Action
 
Avila maintained its lead early in the second stanza before Peru State took the lead for good with a Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) put back after he grabbed an offensive rebound. The Bobcats led 47-46 with 17:10 to go and never trailed after that point.
 
Peru State built its lead to 11 at 57-46 with 14:41 remaining and later led 61-47 after Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) hit a pair of free throws with 12:27 on the clock.
 
The Eagles would pull to within seven at 64-57 just after the ten-minute mark but Peru State would continue to push back to a double-digit lead. With 2:00 minutes left, Avila was again as close as seven at 79-72, but would never get any closer. The Bobcats would outscore the Eagles 6-2 to end the game with an 85-74 win.

AVILA GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State made 29 of 59 field goals for 49.2% including hitting 5 of 16 from behind the arc for 31.3%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats made 22 of 34 for 64.7%. Avila made 27 of 68 field goal tries for 39.7% and were hot from behind the arc making 13 of 30 for 43.3%. The Eagles struggled at the free throw line making 7 of 18 for 38.9%.
 
The 'Cats had a big rebounding edge as they grabbed 47 rebounds compared to 32 for Avila. Peru State dished out 17 assists while the Eagles had 12. Both teams committed nine turnovers.
 
The Bobcats blocked five shots while Avila had one. Peru State doubled up the steals on the Eagles as they finished with six compared to three for Avila.
 
Individual Statistics

 
Five Bobcats finished in double figures with two finishing with double-doubles. Eboigbodin led the scoring with 20 points and was one shy of a double-double as he had nine rebounds. Biyendolo added 17 points while Vasa had a season-high 15 points and a season-high ten rebounds. Brackeen finished with 11 points and 10 boards while Roberts-Burnett also had ten points.
 
Brackeen dished out a game-high six assists while Biyendolo added four and Eboigbodin three. Paulius Sakinis (Klaipeda, Lithuania) finished with three blocked shots with Eboigbodin and Vasa each blocking one shot. Brackeen led the team with two steals while four others each having one.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The 'Cats are in the playoffs, but have one regular season game remaining which could determine whether they are on the road for the play-in game or whether they host on Tuesday night. On Saturday, Peru State will be traveling to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to face Mount Mercy. The Mustangs are currently 18-10 overall and are 17-8 in conference action. Mount Mercy is also battling for a better seed as they are tied for third, just one game out of second. Game time for the big contest for both teams is 4 p.m.
 
Peru State will be playing next Tuesday night with the location hinging on the outcomes of Saturday's Heart games.