(Peru, Neb.) – After trailing for the entire game, the Peru State men's basketball team made a valiant rally at the end of their contest. However, that rally came up just short as they fell to the visiting Missouri Valley (MVC) Vikings 78-75.
 
Peru State trailed by as many as 26 in the second half only to see a three-point shot just miss near the end which would have tied the game.
 
With the win, MVC improved to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The 25^th-ranked Bobcats fell to 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.

 
First Half Action
 
Missouri Valley scored the first eight points of the game before Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) put the Bobcats on the board at the 17:52 mark. The Vikings would then score the next eight points before Tanksley again scored. With 15:44 left in the first half, MVC was leading 16-4.
 
At the 11:04 mark, the Vikings had extended their lead to 32-9. Nate Townsen Jr. (Richton Park, Ill.) off an assist from Devon Colley (Las Vegas) to get the deficit back down to 20.
 
The Vikings would continue to have their double-digit lead throughout the first half and led by as many as 26 at 49-23 before Townsen Jr. hit a trey at the buzzer to make the halftime score 49-26.
 
Second Half Action
 
The second half started with the Vikings nailing a trey to match their largest lead of the game of 26 as they had a 52-26 lead with 19:24 on the clock.
 
Tanksley would make one of two free throws for the first Peru State points of the second half.
 
Deonte McReynolds (Chicago) would hit a trey off an assist from Colley to cut the deficit to 22 and then Isaac Simpson (Papillion) would get a dish from Colley and put in a three-pointer of his own. With 16:29 left in the game, it was now 52-33.
 
The teams would trade buckets for about the next eight minutes with McReynolds hitting a three-pointer off an assist from Kendrick Robinson (Chicago) to pull the 'Cats within 14 at 71-57. The Vikings would then score the next five points and once again led by 19 with 7:10 left on the scoreboard clock.
 
This would be where the valiant comeback for the Bobcats started. Simpson would make one of two free throws and then followed with a put back of an offensive rebound to put the score at 76-60 with 6:14 on the clock.
 
Tanksley, Townsen Jr., and Simpson would each make one of two free throws to cut the margin down to 13 at the 3:55 mark.
 
Then, Tanksley and Townsen Jr. each make a two-pointer and now the 'Cats were within single digits as they trailed 76-67 with 2:10 on the clock. Another bucket by Townsen cut the lead to seven.
 
Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) would grab an offensive rebound and put it back in with 82 seconds left in the game and the Bobcats had pulled to within five at 76-71.

 
Peru State would get the ball back after a turnover and called a time out. Simpson would get an assist from Vasa and it was now 76-73 as the 'Cats had rattled off 16 unanswered points.
 
Mo Valley would have another turnover and the Bobcats called another timeout. A three-point attempt failed, but the 'Cats got the dead ball rebound. Another trey attempt missed and the Bobcats were forced to foul. MVC hit both free throws – their first points in seven minutes to make it a two-possession game with six seconds left. Townsen Jr. would score the final bucket for the final 78-75 score.

MISSOURI VALLEY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Missouri Valley out-shot the Bobcats in all categories. The Vikings made 28 of 65 field goals for 43.1% which included hitting 9 of 24 from long range for 37.5%. At the free throw line, MVC went 13 of 19 for 68.4%. Peru State made 27 of 68 field goal tries for 39.7% and hit 6 of 26 for 23.1%. The biggest difference of the contest was at the free throw line as the 'Cats struggled as they only made 15 of 32 for 46.9%.
 
The Bobcats did have a rebounding edge as they grabbed 44 boards compared to 39 for the Vikings. MVC handed out 14 assists while the 'Cats had ten.
 
The Vikings finished with 16 turnovers as the Bobcats had three less. Peru State blocked four shots and had ten steals. Mo Valley had no blocked shots and grabbed five steals.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Four Bobcats finished with four players scoring in double figures and were led by Townsen Jr. who had a game-high 20 points on 7 of 10 shooting. Tanksley finished with 14 while Simpson added 13. Robinson contributed 11 points
 
Vasa and Simpson led the team in rebounding grabbing nine and eight boards respectively. Robinson nabbed seven with Colley and Tanksley each being credited with six.
 
Colley dished out four assists and Robinson handed out two.
 
Vasa blocked two shots with Colley and O'Nandi Brooks (Brooklyn, N.Y.) each blocking one.
 
Townsen Jr. and Robinson each had three steals with four others having one apiece.

 
Upcoming Contests
 
Evangel will be the Bobcats' opponent on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Springfield, Mo. The Crusaders are 3-3 on the year and 1-1 in the Heart. Evangel topped Graceland (Iowa) Wednesday night at home.
 
Peru State will then participate in a Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Nov. 29 and 30. On Friday, the Bobcats will face Northwestern (Iowa) at 5 p.m. Northwestern has started the year with a 5-2 mark. Then, on Saturday, Peru State will face the hosts at 4 p.m. The Defenders are off to a 5-3 record with their most recent win coming over Northwestern.
 
The Bobcats will then be back at home on Monday, Dec. 2, when they face MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) at 7:30 p.m. The Pioneers are 3-2 overall and started their conference play with a win over the fourth-ranked William Penn (Iowa) team Wednesday night.