(Peru, Neb.) – Despite a couple of injuries, the Peru State men's basketball team pulled out a big win over the visiting Grand View (Iowa) Vikings Saturday night. The Bobcats topped the Vikings 95-88 after pulling ahead late in the contest.
 
The game was played in front of a decent crowd as the second semester has not started. The crowd was bolstered by over 100 fans from Nebraska City Lourdes who were there in support of two of their graduates on the Bobcat team – Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) and Paulius Sakinis (Klaipeda, Lithuania). 
Peru State improved to 9-7 overall and 3-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. Grand View fell to 9-6 on the year and 2-3 in the North. The Vikings had been receiving votes in the most recent NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll.
 
First Half Action
 
The game was tied early three different times with the last tie in the first half coming at 8-8 at the 16:47 mark. After a free throw by the Vikings, Nolan Cass (Spring, Texas) hit a trey off an assist from Quantice Hunter (Chicago) to put the 'Cats on top for the rest of the first 20 minutes.
 
While the lead never was very large for most of the first half, Peru State did have its first ten-point lead at 41-31 after Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) completed an old-fashioned three-point play with 4:15 to go in the half.

 
The Vikings pulled back within four at 45-41 with just over two minutes left in the half before Marcus Nolan (Casper, Wyo.) hit a bucket in the paint on an assist from Cass to make it 47-41. Hunter and Nolan would then have back-to-back buckets to extend the lead back to ten before Hunter hit a trey at the buzzer to give Peru State a 13-point halftime lead at 54-41.
 
Second Half Action
 
Hunter would get a bucket to start the second half to give Peru State its largest lead of 15 at that time.
 
The Vikings would chip away at the lead and were back within single digits at 58-50 with 15:45 left in the contest. Later, the 'Cats would find themselves again up by 15 at 67-52 after Hunter hit a bucket at the 12:10 mark.
 
Grand View would then go on a 24-9 run to eventually tie the game at 76-76 with 6:23 left in the contest.
 
Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) broke that tie, but Grand View would tie it back up with a pair of free throws on their next possession.
 
Andre Frazier-Stanley (Los Angeles) would put the Bobcats ahead for what would be good with a pair of free throws with 4:55 on the clock. But the game was still in doubt until about one minute left in the game. Peru State built its lead to seven at 90-83 after Biyendolo hit a pair of free throws with 43 ticks on the clock. Grand View would keep coming back, but Biyendolo would hit his free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

GRAND VIEW GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams were extremely hot from the floor. The Bobcats made 33 of 59 field goals for 55.9% which included making 9 of 19 from behind the arc for 47.4%. From the free throw line, Peru State hit 20 of 31 for 64.5%. Grand View connected on 36 of 70 field goals for 51.4% and made 8 of 24 from long range for 33.3%. At the charity stripe, the Vikings made 8 of 13 for 61.5%.
 
The rebounding battle was won by the Vikings as they narrowly out-rebounded the Bobcats 29-27. Grand View also had two more assists as they finished with 15 compared to 13 for the 'Cats. Both teams had nine turnovers.
 
Peru State blocked four shots while the Vikings finished with two. Grand View had five steals while the Bobcats finished with four.
 
Individual Statistics

 
Four Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Biyendolo who finished with a season- and career-high 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting from the floor. Hunter added 20 while Moore Jr. had 16. Cass finished with 15 points as he made 5 of 7 from long range.
 
Moore Jr. led the team with six rebounds while Frazier-Stanley finished with five. Biyendolo dished out five assists while Hunter finished with four and Nolan handed out two.
 
Moore Jr., Vasa, Biyendolo, and Frazier-Stanley each blocked one shot. Hunter was credited with two steals with Cass and Moore Jr. each adding one.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play two more Heart North Division games this coming week. On Wednesday, they will be in Lamoni, Iowa, to face Graceland at 7:30 p.m. The Yellowjackets are 10-6 on the year and are 4-1 in the Heart North having lost Saturday night to William Penn (Iowa) at home.
 
On Saturday, Jan. 13, in front of an alumni basketball crowd, the Bobcats will host Mount Mercy (Iowa) at 2 p.m. It should be noted this is an earlier than normal start time as the Mustangs requested the time change due to travel. Mount Mercy is 8-7 on the year and are 3-2 in the Heart North having won their last two games. They will face Clarke (Iowa) on the road before heading to the Al Wheeler Activity Center.