(Peru, Neb.) – MidAmerica Nazarene (MNU) scored the first nine points of the contest Wednesday night and never trailed in their 86-75 win over Peru State in Olathe, Kan.
 
The Bobcats did make it interesting in the second half before the Pioneers caught fire again to close out the win. MNU improved to 9-5 on the season and are now 2-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Peru State fell to 8-7 overall and are also 2-2 in conference play.
 
First Half Action

 
After the Pioneers led 9-0, Quantice Hunter (Chicago) finally put the 'Cats on the board with a bucket in the paint off an assist from LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.) with 15:40 left in the first half. MNU would extend its lead to 11 at 13-2 before Bobcat newcomer Andre Frazier-Stanley (Los Angeles) made one of two free throws. Nolan Cass (Spring, Texas) followed with a trey and Peru State was back within seven at 13-6 at the 13:31 mark.
 
MNU would again lead by 11 later at 24-13 with 10:50 on the clock. Again, Frazier-Stanley would make one free throw and then Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) would hit a jumper in the paint off an assist from Marcus Nolan (Casper, Wyo.) to make it 24-16. With 8:53 to go in the first half, Hunter drained a three-pointer off an assist from Westbrook and again, Peru State was back within five at 24-19.
 
The Pioneers would respond with a 7-0 run before Nolan would put back an offensive rebound to make it 31-21 with 6:38 left in the first 20 minutes.
 
The ten-point deficit was as close as the 'Cats would be in the first half as the Pioneers outscore Peru State 13-9 during the last six minutes to lead 44-30 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
 
Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) would get the first bucket of the second half on an assist from Hunter and then they traded roles as Hunter drained a trey to pull the 'Cats within nine at 44-35 at the 18:32 mark.

 
MNU would get a basket and then Hunter would get back-to-back hoops to make it 46-39 with 17:18 left in the contest.
 
With 15:53 on the clock, Moore Jr. would pull Peru State within five at 48-43 with a pair of free throws. After MNU hit a trey, Moore Jr. countered with a trey of his own and the same sequence followed on each team's possession. With just over 15 minutes left in the game, the Bobcats were still within five at 54-49.
 
An eight-point run put the Pioneers back up by 13 at that point and the Bobcats could never get closer than ten points the rest of the contest. The last time Peru State was within ten was with 1:55 left in the game as Westbrook hit a bucket.

MIDAMERICA NAZARENE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Pioneers were hot in the 2018 opener as they made 29 of 59 field goals for 49.2% which included a remarkable 13 of 23 from long range for 56.5%. At the free throw line, MNU made 15 of 19 for 78.9%. Peru State made 27 of 74 field goal tries for 36.5% and were cool from behind the arc as they connected on 9 of 33 for 27.3%. The 'Cats had one of the poorer nights at the free throw line as they made 12 of 21 for 57.1%.
 
MNU had a rebounding edge as they grabbed 49 boards compared to 33 for the Bobcats. The Pioneers nearly doubled the 'Cats in assists as they had 25 while Peru State finished with 13.
 
Peru State did handle the ball better than MNU as they finished with just eight while the Pioneers had 22. The 'Cats had six blocked shots while the Pioneers blocked four. Peru State stole 11 balls while MNU had just one steal.
 
Individual Statistics

 
Only two Bobcats finished in double figures with Hunter leading the way with a game-high 23 points. Moore Jr. finished with 18 points. Cass and Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) each scored eight points.
 
Westbrook led the team with six rebounds while Moore Jr. added five. Westbrook also led the team with a game-high six assists while Hunter and Nolan each dished out two.
 
Frazier-Stanley blocked three shots while Vasa blocked two. Moore Jr. finished with one block.
 
Hunter nabbed four steals while Westbrook added three. Biyendolo and Roberts-Burnett each were credited with two.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will be at home this Saturday, Jan. 6, when they host Grand View (Iowa) at 4 p.m. The Vikings are 9-5 on the season having lost Wednesday night to Mount Mercy (Iowa). They are 2-2 in the Heart North.
 
Bobcats Vasa and Paulius Sakinis (Klaipeda, Lithuania) will be recognized as it will be "Nebraska City Lourdes" afternoon in the Al Wheeler Activity Center. Both players are Lourdes graduates. All Lourdes alumni, current faculty and staff will be allowed in free as long as they are wearing Lourdes gear. It is hoped that the athletic department will also recognize some of the outstanding recent accomplishments by some current Lourdes groups.
 
On Wednesday, the 'Cats will travel to Lamoni, Iowa, to face the much-improved Graceland Yellowjackets. Graceland is now 10-5 overall and are 4-0 in the Heart North. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.