(Peru, Neb.) – A hot shooting performance helped lead the Peru State men's basketball team to an 84-69 Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) win over the visiting Avila (Mo.) Eagles Wednesday night.
 
Both teams shot the ball well as the Bobcats made over 53% of their field goals while the Eagles hit over 48% of their shots. The 'Cats also made over 77% of their free throws to help seal the win.
 
Peru State improved to 15-8 overall and are now 9-3 in conference play in the North Division of the Heart. Avila fell to 10-10 on the year and are 4-8 while playing in the Heart South.
 
First Half Action
 
The first half was tight throughout as there were five ties and 12 lead changes.
Seth Snoddy (Daly City, Calif.) started the scoring by making one of two free throws for the Bobcats. After the Eagles hit a bucket, Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) hit a bucket off an assist from LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.) to put the 'Cats back up 3-2 at the 18:17 mark.
 
Later, the Eagles would lead by four at 13-9 with just over 15 minutes left in the first 20 minutes. A three-pointer by Westbrook, which was then followed by a trey by Quantice Hunter (Chicago), put the Bobcats up by two at 15-13 at the 13:53 point in the first half.
 
Avila would score the next seven points to lead 20-15. A bucket by Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) cut the lead to three and then Westbrook made it a one-point contest with a bucket off a turnover. The Eagles would go back up by three, by Nolan Cass (Spring, Texas) would nail a three off an assist from Westbrook to knot the game at 22 each with 8:26 on the clock.

 
There would be two more ties in the first half. With 3:26 remaining, Avila was leading 31-29. On an assist from Westbrook, Hunter would drain a trey to put the Bobcats back on top for what would be for good in the gain.
 
Peru State would eventually lead 36-33 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
 
The Eagles would keep the contest close for most of the first ten minutes of the second half.
 
Peru State would have its first double-digit lead at 60-49 when Moore Jr. hit a bucket in the paint at 9:23 left in the contest. Later, the 'Cats would lead by 15 at 66-51 after Cass hit another trey off an assist from Westbrook with 8:21 to go in the game.
 
Avila would not quit and would be within six at 72-66 with 3:58 remaining. A trey and a two-pointer by Hunter increased Peru State's lead to 11 with just under three minutes on the clock. The Eagles would then hit a trey to get back to within eight before the 'Cats would score the final seven points of the game.
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State connected on 31 of 58 field goal attempts for 53.4% which included hitting 8 of 21 three-point attempts for 38.1%. The Bobcats also made 14 of 18 free throw tries for 77.8%. Avila hit 29 of 60 field goal tries for 48.3% and shot almost as well from long range as they hit 8 of 17 for 47.1%. The Eagles did struggle from the free throw line making just 3 of 9 for 33.3%.
 
Both teams finished with 29 rebounds. The Bobcats had one more assist than the Eagles as they finished with 14.

The Eagles committed 20 turnovers while Peru State finished with 15. The Bobcats blocked three shots while the Eagles had two. Peru State had eight steals – two more than Avila.

AVILA GAME BOOK
 
Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures in the contest. Peru State was led by Westbrook who became just one of eight players in the NAIA this season to record a triple double. Westbrook finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Moore Jr. also had 20 points while Hunter finished with 16.

 
Andre Frazier-Stanley (Los Angeles) grabbed five rebounds and also blocked two shots. The only other Bobcat to have more than one assist Wednesday was Biyendolo who finished with two.
 
Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) added one block while Westbrook and Cass were each credited with two steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State has seven more Heart contests remaining and the next one will be this Saturday when they host Culver-Stockton (Mo.) at approximately 4 p.m. Earlier in the season, the Bobcats defeated the Wildcats in Canton, Mo., 87-82. Culver-Stockton is presently 5-18 on the year and are 2-10 in the Heart South having lost three of four since the Bobcats defeated them two weeks ago.
 
Saturday will be a big day at Peru State as it is the College's Foundation National Alumni Association (NAA) Chili Feed. The NAA will begin serving chili after the halftime of the women's game which will be at approximately 2:45 p.m. At halftime of each of the games, the Gary's Tumbling's Fantastic Flyers of Glenwood, Iowa, will perform. The group has been entertaining Peru State crowds for many years.

Between the women's and men's games, the College and athletic department will recognize its fall student-athletes who earned athletic and academic recognition.
 
Next week, the Bobcats will be on the road for both of its games. Wednesday night will be the rematch that William Penn has been waiting for since December. Peru State upset the now top-ranked Statesmen at home. William Penn has not lost since and is currently 21-1 overall and is 11-1 in the Heart North. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 
On Saturday, Feb. 10, Peru State will be in Fayette, Mo., to take on another hot team, that being Central Methodist. The Eagles, who are 12^th-ranked at this time, are 20-3 overall and are 9-3 in the Heart South. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.