(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State men's basketball team ensured their season will continue with an opening round win over Avila (Mo.) Monday night in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) Post-Season Tournament.
 
The Bobcats prevailed 80-73 in a hard-fought contest over the Eagles in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.

With the win, Peru State improved to 19-12 overall. Avila finished its 2017-18 season with a 13-15 mark as the Eagles played their final game in the Heart. Avila will begin play in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) next fall.
 
The Bobcats earned the right to host another game Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The opponent will be the Grand View (Iowa) Vikings.
 
First Half Action
 
The frenzied play in the first half was tight throughout as Peru State's largest lead was six points while the Eagles led by three at one time.

 
Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) opened the scoring for the Bobcats with a pair of free throws. After the Eagles tied it with a quick bucket, Andre Frazier-Stanley (Los Angeles) also made a pair of free throws to put Peru State back up by two. Again, Avila would tie it with a hoop.
 
Biyendolo would get Peru State's next points on a fast-break bucket on an assist from LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.). Then Biyendolo followed it up with another bucket on a fast break to put the 'Cats ahead 8-4 with 16:31 left in the first half. This forced an Avila timeout.
 
The Eagles would then go on a 5-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 9-8 while using only 33 seconds to do so. Westbrook would stop the run with back-to-back-to-back buckets to put the 'Cats up 14-9 with 13:44 on the clock. After an Eagle basket, Frazier-Stanley drained a trey from the top of the key on an assist from Quantice Hunter (Chicago) to give the Bobcats their largest lead of the first half at 17-11.
 
The Eagles would come back to tie it at 17-17 and later again at 22-22. Nolan Cass (Spring, Texas) would break the tie with a trey on an assist from Westbrook at the 6:30 mark in the first 20 minutes. From that point on in the game, Peru State would never trail.
 
Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) would hit a pair of free throws to end the half giving the Bobcats at 35-30 lead.
 
Second Half Action
 
After Avila scored the first bucket of the second half, Peru State would score the next eight points to go up 43-32 with 17:31 left in the contest.
 
The Bobcats would eventually build its lead to 54-40 after Cass hit a trey on an assist from Hunter at the 13:19 mark. But, the Eagles would not go away. Avila scored nine straight to pull back within five at 54-49.
 
Again, the Bobcats would go on a little run and with 7:19 left in the game, led 64-51 after Frazier-Stanley hit his second three-pointer of the game on an assist from Hunter. Once again, Avila would make a run and with 49 seconds left trailed just by five again at 74-69.
 
It was basically a free throw contest from that point on and fortunately for Peru State, they made all six of their charity tosses down the stretch to seal the win.

AVILA GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Avila actually shot the ball better from the floor than Peru State with the exception of being cold from behind the arc. The Eagles made 30 of 63 field goals for 47.6% but only hit 2 of 20 from long range for 10%. At the free throw line, Avila hit 11 of 13 for 84.6%. The Bobcats made 21 of 53 field goal tries for 39.6% but did connect on 7 of 16 from three-point range for 43.8%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats made 31 of 37 for 83.8%.

 
The Eagles had a slight rebounding edge as they grabbed 32 rebounds compared to 29 for the 'Cats. Peru State dished out 11 assists while Avila finished with nine.
 
The Bobcats committed 12 turnovers while Avila finished with 20. The Eagles had the lone blocked shot in the game. Peru State did get 13 steals while Avila had four.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Four Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Hunter who had a game-high 21 points. Biyendolo added 18 while Westbrook contributed 16. Frazier-Stanley was also in double figures as he had 11 points.
 
Biyendolo led all rebounders with eight while Hunter and Westbrook each finished with six. Frazier-Stanley added five.
 
Westbrook dished out a game-high eight assists while Hunter was credited with three. Both Hunter and Westbrook had four steals while Biyendolo nabbed three.
 
Upcoming Games
 
By virtue of the first round win, Peru State became the fourth overall seed in the Heart Post-Season Tournament and gained another home contest on Wednesday night.
 
Grand View will be the opponent at 7 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center. The Vikings secured the fifth seed after the first round by beating Baker (Kan.) 76-70 in Des Moines Monday night.
 
Peru State and Grand View split its two contests this season with each team winning on their home court. The Bobcats won 95-88 on Jan. 6 while the Vikings won 90-77 three weeks later.
 
The team that wins Wednesday night will continue on in post-season play Friday night with an opponent and location to be determined based on what happens Wednesday evening.
 
As Wednesday night's game is post-season action, only NAIA and media passes will be allowed. All attendees will need to pay a minimal admission price. It is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors over 65, and $4 for students – including Peru State students. However, the College will be paying for ALL Peru State students in attendance.