(Peru, Neb.) – The Grand View men's basketball team scored the first ten points of their win over Peru State and never trailed in the 90-77 win over the Bobcats on Saturday. Five Vikings finished in double figures to help pull of the win.
 
The Vikings' win snapped a six-game winning streak for the 'Cats. Grand View improved to 12-9 on the year and are now 5-6 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. Peru State fell to 14-8 for the season overall and dropped to 8-3 in the Heart North. They are now in a tie for second in the Heart North with Graceland, but presently hold the tie-break as they topped the Yellowjackets on Jan. 10.
 
First Half Action
 
The Vikings scored ten minutes in the first three minutes before a bucket by Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) put the Bobcats on the board at the 16:29 mark in the first half.
 
Later, with just over ten minutes to go in the first 20 minutes, LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.) completed an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 18-14 at the 10:01 mark. Grand View would extend their lead back to eight later at 24-16 with 8:56 left in the half.

Allias Roberts-Burnett (Joliet, Ill.) would drain a trey off an assist from Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) which was followed by another three-pointer, this time by Quantice Hunter (Chicago) which came off an assist from Westbrook to pull the 'Cats within two at 24-22 at the 8:07 mark. After a free throw by the Vikings, Westbrook would hit a pair of free throws and suddenly the Bobcats were within one at 25-24 with 5:38 left in the first 20 minutes.
 
But, that would be as close as Peru State would be in the rest of the game as the Vikings rattled off the next nine points to go back up by double digits. The Bobcats cut the lead to seven three different times, but Grand View finished off the first half with four straight points to lead 42-31 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
Back-to-back buckets by Hunter started the second half to get the 'Cats within seven again at 42-35, but Grand View eventually pulled out to an 18-point lead at 55-37 with 16:49 left in the game.

The Bobcats would claw their way back into the game and trailed by just seven again at 61-54 with 11:55 left after Hunter had hit another bucket. Again, Grand View would go on another short run to go back up by 13 before Peru State would continue to fight back.

Peru State would be within six with 5:22 left when Biyendolo made one of two free throws to make it 74-68. Another six-point run put the Vikings back up by 12 and only once after that point would the Bobcats be back within single digits as Grand View went on for the win.

Team Statistics

Grand View was hot from the floor and made 32 of 60 field goals for 53.3% which included making 5 of 16 three-point attempts for 31.3%. From the free throw line, the Vikings went 21 of 28 for 75%. Peru State hit 26 of 68 field goals for 38.2% and connected on just 5 of 28 from long range for 23.8%. The Bobcats made 20 of 29 free throws for 69%.

The Vikings had a rebounding edge as they grabbed 43 boards compared to 36 for the Bobcats. Grand View dished out 14 assists while the 'Cats finished with eight.

Peru State had 11 turnovers compared to 13 for their opponents. Grand View finished with three blocked shots while the 'Cats had two. The Bobcats nabbed five steals while the
Vikings finished with one.

Individual Statistics

Hunter led all scorers with 29 points while Westbrook was the only other Bobcat in double figures as he added 16 while hitting all ten free throws.

Andre Frazier-Stanley (Los Angeles) and Westbrook each had eight boards to lead the team. Westbrook also dished out four assists with Roberts-Burnett handing out two.
 
Frazier-Stanley was credited with the team's two blocked shots. Westbrook had two steals to lead the team.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will have two home games this week. On Wednesday, the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and the athletic department will recognize the achievements of several different groups from the Auburn Public Schools prior to the men's game with Avila (Mo.) at 7:30 p.m.

The Eagles are now 10-9 on the year and are 4-7 in the Heart South having lost four straight in conference action.
 
On Saturday, it will be the Peru State Foundation National Alumni Association Annual Chili Feed when the Bobcats host Culver-Stockton at approximately 4:00 p.m. The Wildcats are 5-17 overall and are 2-9 in the Heart South having lost their last two games.
 
The chili feed will begin at approximately 2:45 p.m. At halftime of both contests, the Fantastic Flyers of Gary's Tumbling of in Glenwood, Iowa, will perform. Between the games, student-athletes of the falls sports will be honored for the athletic and academic achievements.