(Peru, Neb.) – It looked pretty bleak with just 41 seconds left on the clock for Peru State Saturday night as they trailed 70-62 at that point to the visiting 11^th-ranked Central Methodist (CMU) (Mo.) Eagles.
 
Something fired up the 'Cats – especially senior forward Lyle Hexom (Omaha) who found the range to hit back-to-back-to-back three-pointers to give Peru State a 71-70 victory.
 
It was not without some other missed attempts by the Eagles, but the Bobcats prevailed to improve to 4-0 overall on the season, including winning their first game in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). It was the first loss for CMU which fell to 6-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
 
It was the first time since the beginning of the 2014-15 season in which Peru State has started with four straight wins. This is only twice since 2003-04 that the Bobcats have won four in a row to start a season.

 
First Half Action
 
CMU scored the first three points of the game before Brandon Jones (Houston) hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from KeShawn Wilson (Lincoln) with 18:10 left in the first half. Later, the two would hook up to tie it at 6-6 at the 16:22 mark.
 
Peru State would get its first lead on the next possession after DeMon Hyler (Kansas City, Mo.) got a steal and took it to the hoop to make it 8-6.

The Eagles would rattle of eight straight points to lead 14-8 with 13:25 left in the first 20 minutes.
 
With 8:48 left in the first half, Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) would get an assist from Hyler to tie it up at 14-14.
 
After the game was tied at 16-16, CMU would score five points in a row to take a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the half.
 
At halftime, the Eagles led 31-23.
 
Second Half Action
 
Central Methodist would stretch its lead to 42-29 after about the first five minutes were gone in the second half.
 
Back-to-back buckets by Hexom – the first on an assist from Wilson and second on an assist from Jones cut the deficit to single digits at 42-33. Deonte McReynolds (Chicago) would then get a fast-break hoop to pull the 'Cats within seven at 42-35 at the 13:31 mark.
 
The Eagles would respond and eventually led by as many as 12 at 53-41 with 8:43 left in the contest.
 
After trailing 59-49 with just under six minutes to go, Hexom would score a bucket and then Jones would hit a pair of hoops to make it 59-55. CMU would then go up by as many as nine and still led 70-62 before the Bobcats would have their miraculous comeback.
 
Hexom would nail a trey and was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw to make it 70-65. The Eagles would miss a front end of a one-and-one and Jones grabbed the rebound. Hyler would dish it to Hexom who nailed a second-straight trey to pull the 'Cats within two at 70-68.
 
A steal by Hexom would lead to his third-straight three-pointer – again on an assist from Hyler to put Peru State up 71-70 with seconds left on the clock. Hexom would get the rebound, but the 'Cats were not in the bonus yet which forced the Eagles to foul twice. The Bobcats would miss the front side of the bonus free throw and the rebound was gained by CMU.
 
A desperate last-second attempt was short and the 'Cats pulled off the early-season upset.

CENTRAL METHODIST GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball well from the floor while both struggled at the free throw line.

 
Peru State made 29 of 67 field goals for 43.3% which included hitting 8 of 23 three-pointers for 34.8%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats made 5 of 9 for 55.6%. CMU made 26 of 61 from the floor while connecting on 7 of 21 from long range for 33.3%. The Eagles made 11 of 18 free throws for 61.1%.
 
The Eagles did have a slight edge on the boards as they pulled down 38 rebounds compared to 34 for the 'Cats. Peru State dished out 17 assists while CMU had ten.
 
Central Methodist finished with 12 turnovers – three more than Peru State. The Bobcats had one more blocked shot than the Eagles as they finished with six. Both teams had five steals.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Hexom led all scorers with 27 points as he made 10 of 16 from the floor, including hitting 4 of 7 from long range. Jones added 18 points on 9 of 12 from the floor. Nicolas Wurm (Adelaide, Australia) finished with eight points while Wilson and Moore Jr. each added six.
 
Jones led the team with eight rebounds while Hexom grabbed seven. Jamil Maddred (Camden, N.J.) and McReynolds each finished with five boards.
 
Hyler dished out a game-high eight assists while Wilson and Wurm each finished with three assists.
 
Hexom blocked three shots while Jones, Wurm, and Isaac Simpson (Papillion) each blocked one shot.
 
Maddred, Hexom, Hyler, Wurm, and Moore Jr. each had one steal.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will sandwich a non-conference game in between a pair of Heart match-ups in the next eight days.
 
On Tuesday, Nov. 20, the Bobcats will be in Baldwin City, Kan., to face Baker at 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats are 3-4 overall and have dropped their two opening Heart games.
 
The Saturday afternoon after Thanksgiving, the 'Cats will host NAIA DII opponent Concordia at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs are off to a 4-3 start and will face Waldorf (Iowa) before heading to Peru.
 
On Monday, Nov. 26, the 'Cats will be back in conference action when they face Graceland (Iowa) at 7:30 p.m. The Yellowjackets, who received votes in the first Coaches' Top 25 Poll, are perfect so far on the season at 5-0 and 1-0 in the Heart. They will play another conference game before playing a pair of NCAA DII teams during the Thanksgiving break.