(Peru, Neb.) – There was only a four-point difference at halftime, but William Penn (WPU) came back to score 61 points in the final 20 minutes for a 110-79 when over the visiting Peru State Bobcat men's basketball team Wednesday night. The Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division action took place in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
 
The Statesmen had seven players finishing in double figures in scoring.
 
With the win, the NAIA's top-ranked team improved to 22-2 overall and are 12-2 in conference play. Peru State fell to 16-9 on the year and 10-4 in the Heart North.
 
First Half Action
 

WPU hit the first bucket of the game before LJ Westbrook (Salem, Ore.) hit a bucket in the paint to score Peru State's first points at the 19:17 mark. The Statesmen would jump to a four-point advantage on three different occasions and lead 10-6 before Westbrook would hit a trey to force a William Penn timeout.
 
The Statesmen would hit a bucket to go up 12-9 before Westbrook would dish off an assist to Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) who hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 12 each at the 15:17 point in the first half.
 
Peru State would continue on the run and scored an additional nine points to lead 21-12 after Seth Snoddy (Daly City, Calif.) hit a bucket in the paint on an assist from Westbrook with 13:03 left in the first 20 minutes.
 
The 'Cats held the lead until just under three minutes before WPU tied it at 38-38. A trey by Quantice Hunter (Chicago) off an assist from Westbrook put Peru State back in the lead. William Penn quickly tied it up and then finished the first half off with an 8-4 run to lead 49-45 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
 
William Penn started the second half with a bucket before Marley Biyendolo (Melbourne, Australia) scored in the paint off an assist from Westbrook with 18:11 left in the game. Vasa would follow with a bucket to pull the 'Cats within two at 51-49.
 
After that point, the Statesmen caught fire and went on a 20-3 run to go out to a 71-52 lead with 12:58 on the clock.

 
WPU would continue to increase their lead as they were up by 23 at 81-58 before Hunter made a pair of free throws and then completed an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 81-63. Westbrook made one of two free throws to pull the 'Cats within 17 with 8:27 left, but that would be as close as Peru State would be the rest of the way.

WILLIAM PENN GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Statesmen were very efficient from the floor as they made 45 of 79 field goals for 57% which included making 11 of 26 from three-point range for 42.3%. WPU did struggle at the free throw line hitting just 9 of 20 for 45%. Peru State had an off night on the floor making just 27 of 75 field goals for 36% and connected on only 9 of 33 from behind the arc for 27.3%. At the charity stripe, the Bobcats made 16 of 25 for 64%.
 
William Penn grabbed 12 more rebounds than Peru State as they had 54 compared to 42 for the Bobcats. The Statesmen dished out a remarkable 35 assists while the 'Cats finished with 14.
 
Peru State did have fewer turnovers than William Penn as the Bobcats had 10 miscues compared to 13 for the Statesmen. WPU blocked four shots while Peru State had three. Both teams finished with four steals.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Four Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Hunter's game-high 30 points. Nolan Cass (Spring, Texas) added 14 with Vasa finishing with 11. Westbrook added ten points.
 

Hunter was also the team's leading rebounder as he grabbed eight boards. Westbrook, Andre Frazier-Stanley (Los Angeles) and Vasa each had seven rebounds.
 
Westbrook dished out seven assists with Hunter, Snoddy, and Biyendolo each handing out two. Frazier-Stanley blocked two shots with Snoddy adding one block. Hunter led the team with two steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
After facing the top team in the North Division, Peru State will now face the top team in the South Division on Saturday when they travel to take on Central Methodist in Fayette, Mo., at 4 p.m. The 12^th-ranked Eagles are on a five-game winning streak and are 22-3 on the year. In the Heart South, they are 11-3.
 
On 1 p.m. Sunday the Bobcats will be in Vermillion, S.D., to take on NCAA DI University of South Dakota in an exhibition game for Peru State. The Coyotes are 20-6 on the season.
 
The Bobcats will then host another set of 'Cats when Baker (Kan.) University visits for a 7:30 p.m. contest on Valentine's Day night. Baker is struggling some this season and are presently 9-13 on the year, having lost their last seven contests. The Wildcats are 3-11 in the Heart South.