(Peru, Neb.) – A late run by Grand View Tuesday night in Des Moines gave the Vikings the upset win over the #17 Peru State men's basketball team.
 
After trailing by two at halftime, the Vikings outscored Peru State by 11 in the second 20 minutes in route to a 73-64 win.
 
Grand View improved to 5-5 on the year and won their first conference game of the season and are now 2-4. The Bobcats, who earlier on Tuesday came in as 17^th in the first NAIA DI Coaches' Top 25 Poll, fell to 7-2 and 4-1 in conference action.

 
First Half Action
 
A three-point bucket by Lyle Hexom (Omaha) on an assist from DeMon Hyler (Kansas City, Mo.) put the Bobcats up 3-0 just 28 seconds into the contest.

Grand View followed with a trey only to see Hexom hit a two-pointer off an assist from KeShawn Wilson (Lincoln). The Vikings would then go on a 7-0 run to lead 10-5 before Hexom drained his second trey of the contest – this time on an assist from Isaac Simpson (Papillion).
 
Peru State's first lead could come off a three-pointer by Simpson off an assist from Deonte McReynolds (Chicago). The 'Cats lead 16-14 at the 11:48 mark. Again, the Vikings would come back and score the next six points to lead 20-16.
 
The next time the Bobcats regained the lead was at 25-24 after another Hexom trey with 4:31 left in the first half. After later being tied at 27-27, Hyler would get a bucket off an assist from Wilson. Then Wilson would extend the lead to 31-27 with a basket of his own. The Vikings would get a basket at the buzzer to cut the Peru State lead to 31-29 after the first 20 minutes.
 
Second Half Action
 
Grand View would score the first five points of the second half to go up 34-31.
 
Brandon Jones (Houston) would tie it with a three-pointer off an assist from Hyler with 18:11 remaining in the contest.
 
The teams would battle back-and-forth for the next couple of minutes with Peru State gaining a 43-42 lead after Jones completed an old-fashioned three-point play.

 
On the Vikings' next possession they hit a two-pointer which actually gave them the lead for good the rest of the way.
 
Grand View would stretch their lead to ten at 61-51 with 4:51 left in the game. They would eventually lead by as many as 13 at 67-54 with 2:33 left, before Hexom drained another three-pointer to cut the deficit to ten.
 
The Vikings maintained their double-digit lead until near the end when Jones score the final points of the game on an assist from Wilson.
 
GRAND VIEW GAME BOOK

Game Statistics
 
Grand View made 29 of 64 field goals for 45.3% which included hitting 5 of 17 from behind the arc for 29.4%. At the free throw line, the Vikings were 10 of 16 for 62.5%. Peru State was cooler from the floor as they connected on 24 of 66 for 36.7% while making 11 of 35 from three-point range for 31.4%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats hit just 5 of 11 for 45.5%.
 
Both teams finished with 43 rebounds and 18 steals apiece. Peru State committed 14 turnovers – one more than the Vikings. Each team blocked six shots.
 
Peru Player Statistics
 
Hexom and Jones finished in double figures for Peru State. Hexom tied for game-high honors with 19 points while Jones added 16. Hyler added nine and Wilson contributed eight.
 
Hexom just missed a double-double as he finished with nine rebounds. Simpson grabbed eight with Jones adding six.
 
Hyler dished out seven assists while Wilson handed out five dimes.
 
Hexom had a game-high three blocked shots while Simpson, Jones, and Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) each blocked one.
 
Moore Jr. and Jones each grabbed two steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State has two more Heart contests before the winter break. This coming Saturday, the 'Cats will travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa, to face fourth-ranked William Penn. The Statesmen are 11-1 overall and 5-1 in conference action with their only loss coming to MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) who is now receiving votes in the coaches' poll.
 
The 'Cats will then be home on Saturday, Dec. 15, when they host Culver-Stockton at 2 p.m. The Wildcats are 6-5 on the season and are 2-4 in the Heart.