(Peru, Neb.) – The three-game losing streak was snapped Saturday afternoon as the Peru State Bobcat men's basketball team topped the visiting Graceland University Yellowjackets 88-80.
 
With the win, the 'Cats improved to 17-11 on the year and are now 11-6 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. With the loss Graceland fell to 18-10 overall and are still one game ahead of the Bobcats in the division at 12-5.
 
Both teams are looking for a top four seed in the upcoming post-season tournament which will begin on Feb. 26.
 
First Half Action

 
Even though it was a tight contest throughout, Graceland's only lead in the first half came with the opening bucket. Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) would tie the game with a bucket in the paint off an assist from LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.). Westbrook would follow with back-to-back buckets to put the 'Cats up 6-2 at the 18:09 mark. A trey by the 'Jackets closed the score to one, but Moore Jr. pushed the lead back to three with a bucket after he grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back int. Later, at the 15:02 mark, Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) hit a bucket off an assist from Westbrook and the Bobcats led 10-5 at that point.
 
Later, the Bobcats would push their lead to 12 at 21-9 after Biyendolo hit a trey again off an assist from Westbrook with 11:28 remaining in the first 20 minutes.
 
Graceland would go on an 8-0 run of their own to pull within four at 21-17. Moore Jr. would stop the run with a pair of free throws with 8:25 left in the half.
 
The Yellowjackets would pull within one at the 6:18 mark, but Peru State would hold them at bay. Late in the half, the Bobcats were back up by six again at 38-32 after another bucket by Biyendolo with just 69 seconds left in the half. Graceland would eventually pull within one before the half ended as Peru State led 38-37 after the first 20 minutes.
 
Second Half Action
 
A bucket by Andre Frazier-Stanley (Los Angeles) on an assist from Quantice Hunter (Chicago) put the 'Cats up by three to start the second half.
 
Graceland would eventually tie the game at 43-43 with 16:44 to go and then took the lead on their next possession with another trey. Hunter would counter with a three of his own off an assist from Westbrook and the Hunter returned the favor as Westbrook would put Peru State up with a three-pointer of his own with just over 15 minutes remaining in the game. The 'Cats would never trail after that point.
 
Peru State would build its lead to as many as 15 at 72-57 after Hunter drained another trey off an assist from Westbrook. But that lead never seemed safe as the Yellowjackets seemingly kept hitting three-pointers.
 
The 'Jackets would get back within six at 75-69, but Biyendolo would find Hunter for another three-points which was then followed by a trey by Westbrook to put the 'Cats up by 12 at 81-69 with 3:17 on the clock.
 
Graceland would continue to sting the Bobcats with three-pointers and eventually were as close as seven at 84-77 at the 1:09 mark, but Peru State would hit its free throws down the stretch as the 'Jackets were forced to foul.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball well during the game in all phases. Peru State made 29 of 62 field goals for 46.8% including hitting 13 of 29 from long range for 44.8%. From the charity stripe, the Bobcats made 17 of 20 for 85%. Graceland connected on 30 of 66 field goal tries for 45.5% and hit 15 of 38 from behind the arc for 39.5%. The 'Jackets were 5 of 7 from the line for 71.4%.
 
Each team grabbed 32 rebounds in the contest. Graceland dished out 24 assists compared to 18 for the Bobcats.
 
Peru State committed only eight turnovers while the 'Jackets had 14 miscues. The 'Cats blocked five shots compared to three for Graceland. The Bobcats also had nine steals while Graceland finished with three.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Five Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Hunter who had 24. Westbrook added 19 while Moore Jr. finished with 14. Nolan Cass (Spring, Texas) added 12 points while Biyendolo finished with ten. Frazier-Stanley was the only other Bobcat who scored and he finished one point away from double figures.
 
Frazier-Stanley had a game-high ten rebounds while Biyendolo added eight and Westbrook finished with five. Westbrook was one assist from having a double-double while Hunter dished out six.
 
Frazier-Stanley tied with game-high honors by blocking three shots with Moore Jr. adding two. Biyendolo, Westbrook, and Frazier-Stanley each had two steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play two games this week to finish out the regular season and then could host up to two post-season games based on the current standings.
 
Wednesday night will be First Responder Night and Staff Appreciation Night in the Al Wheeler Activity Center with Clarke (Iowa) the opponent for a 7:30 p.m. game. The recognition for the groups will occur prior to the start of the men's game. The Pride are presently 12-16 on the season and are 5-12 in the Heart North having lost their last three contests.

 
The final regular season game for the 'Cats will be on Saturday, Feb. 24, when Peru State travels to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to take on Mount Mercy at 4 p.m. The Mustangs are 13-14 on the year and are 8-9 in the Heart North.
 
The first round of the Heart post-season tournament will be held on Monday, Feb. 26. The top teams in each division (William Penn [Iowa} in the North and Central Methodist [Mo.] in the South have already locked the top spots) will have a bye with the other 12 teams playing. Peru State has already locked up a host spot for the Monday game and depending on what happens the rest of the coming week, will host a South Division opponent.
 
Depending on the outcome of the rest of the week, too, will determine whether or not Peru State could host on Wednesday, Feb. 28, should they win on Monday night. The quarterfinals are then planned based on the top eight seeds remaining in the conference.