(Peru, Neb.) – After trailing by five at halftime, the Peru State men's basketball team responded with a strong second half as they won 90-83 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, over Mount Mercy.
 
This was the final regular-season game for both teams as the Bobcats improved to 18-12 on the season and more importantly 12-7 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. The win secured the third seed in the North for Peru State and fourth seed overall in the conference as Heart begins conference play on Monday. The Mustangs finished in the middle of the conference with a 14-15 overall record and 9-10 in the Heart North.
 
In the post-season, Peru State will host Avila Monday night at 7 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.

 
First Half Action
 
The first few minutes of the game went back and forth. The Mustangs opened with a trey and Quantice Hunter (Chicago) tied it with a trey on an assist from LJ Westbrook at the 19:33 mark. Another trey by Mount Mercy was countered with a bucket by Westbrook to make it 6-5. Later, at the 18:00 point, Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) hit a bucket to give the 'Cats their first lead at 7-6.
 
After Mount Mercy led 10-9, the Bobcats went on a 7-0 run that started with a three-pointer by Hunter. Later, Hunter would hit a two-pointer and that was followed by two points by Westbrook to put the 'Cats up 16-10 with 14:40 left in the half.
 
The Mustangs would stop the run with a bucket, but Nolan Cass (Spring, Texas) would get an assist on a trey from Westbrook to put the Bobcats up 19-12. Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) would get an assist from Allias Roberts-Burnett (Joliet, Ill.) to hit a three and the Bobcats led by ten at 22-12 with 11:48 left in the first 20 minutes.
 
Later, with 9:30 on the clock, Cass would complete an unconventional four-point play and Peru State enjoyed its largest lead at that point at 30-16.
 
Peru State would still lead by ten at 39-29 with just under five minutes to play. The Mustangs would then go on a 12-2 run to tie the contest at 41 each with 2:18 left in the half. Mount Mercy would finish the first 20 minutes on a 6-1 run to lead 47-42 at halftime. Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) would make one of two free throws for Peru State's last point of the first half.
 

Second Half Action
 
Mount Mercy would extend its lead to eight at 52-44 in the first two-plus minutes of the second half. Andre Frazier-Stanley (Los Angeles) would complete a three-point play to pull Peru State back to within five. Eventually, the 'Cats would get a trey from Vasa on an assist from Hunter which would tie the game at 55-55 at the 15:26 mark in the second half.
 
The Mustangs would regain the lead and held it until Westbrook put Peru State back up by one at 59-58 with a bucket with 13:20 on the clock.
 
The game would later be tied at 59-59, 62-62, 68-68, 70-70, and 72-72 before the 'Cats would take the lead on a bucket by Westbrook. Moore Jr. and Frazier-Stanley would each get two points and the Bobcats led 78-72 with 4:14 left in the game.
 
Later, Peru State extended its lead to nine leading 85-76, but the Mustangs would score five to cut the lead to just four with 42 seconds left. The Bobcats would make five of six free throws down the stretch to seal the 90-83 win.
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State had one of its better shooting nights as they made 31 of 59 on the floor for 52.5% which included hitting 9 of 18 for 50% from behind the arc. Peru State mad 19 of 28 free throws for 67.9%. The Mustangs made 28 of 70 for 40% and connected on 9 of 30 from long range for 30%. Mount Mercy made 18 of 29 free throws for 62.1%.
 
The 'Cats had a slight rebounding edge as they grabbed 41 rebounds compared to 37 for the home team. Mount Mercy dished out 17 assists while the Bobcats had 11. Peru State finished with 13 turnovers while the Mustangs had eight.

 
Mount Mercy blocked eight shots and had eight steals. Peru State finished with six blocks and five steals.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Westbrook finished the regular season with his second-straight 30-point contest. He had 36 game-high points on 10 of 15 from the floor and 15 of 16 free throws. Cass added 13 points while Hunter and Moore Jr. each finished with 11.
 
Hunter led the team with seven rebounds while Westbrook, Moore Jr., and Biyendolo each added six boards. Westbrook dished out five assists while Roberts-Burnett and Hunter each had two.
 
Vasa blocked three shots while Frazier-Stanley, Hunter, and Moore Jr. each blocked one shot. Hunter and Westbrook each had two steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Having earned the third seed in the Heart North, the Bobcats earned the right to face the sixth-seeded team in the Heart South, that being Avila. Peru State will host the Eagles Monday night at 7 p.m. Avila finished the season with a 13-14 mark and were 7-12 in conference action. Earlier in the year, the 'Cats defeated Avila 84-69 in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.

 
As this is a post-season tournament, only NAIA passes will be accepted. Admission prices will be $6 for adults, $5 for seniors over 65, and $4 for students 7-17 and Peru State students as well. Those under seven years of age will be admitted free.
 
With a win Monday night, Peru State will also host another post-season game on Wednesday having wrapped up the fourth-best mark in conference action. If all seeds hold as of this time, the Bobcats would host Grand View (Iowa).