(Peru, Neb.) – The Red Raiders of Northwestern made over 60% of their shots in the first half to jump to a 19-point lead over Peru State at the end of 20 minutes.
 
Northwestern finished the game hitting over 50% of their field goals to win 97-79 over the 'Cats in the first day of the Dordt Classic in Sioux Center, Iowa.
 
The Red Raiders improved to 7-2 overall while Peru State fell to 3-3.
 
First Half Action
 
After Northwestern made their first trey of the half, Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) hit one for Peru State off an assist from Nate Townsen Jr. (Richton Park, Ill.). That would be the only time the Bobcats would be tied in the contest as the Red Raiders hit a second-straight three-pointer on their next trip down the court.

 
After the Red Raiders hit a bucket to extend the lead to 8-3, Kendrick Robinson (Chicago) found one from long range to pull the 'Cats back within two at 8-6 at the 17:48 mark.
 
Northwestern would score the next 11 points before Devon Colley (Las Vegas) hit a bucket off an assist from Robinson to stop the run.
 
Later, Peru State would pull themselves back within six after Colley hit a bucket in the paint to make it 19-13 with 13:28 left in the half. Two straight treys would give the Red Raiders a double-digit lead again and Northwestern would never fall below single-digits the rest of the game.
 
The Red Raiders led by as many as 23 at 50-27 before the Bobcats finished the half on an 8-4 run to trail 54-35.
 
Second Half Action
 
Northwestern would extend their lead back to 23 early in the second half at 62-39 with just two minutes gone. Isaac Simpson (Papillion) stopped the run with a trey and then Tanklsey would hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Drew Switzer (Casper, Wyo.) to make it 62-44. Colley would then feed Tanksley who found the hoop from long range and the 'Cats were within 15 at 62-47 at the 15:47 mark.
 
The teams would trade buckets for a few possessions before Tanksley completed an old-fashioned three-point play to get the Bobcats within 14 at 68-54 with just over 13 minutes left in the game. A seven-point run by the Red Raiders would again put their lead to over 20.
 
Late in the contest, Tanksley hit another trey to put the score at 92-79, the closest the Bobcats had been since early in the first half, with 1:24 left in the game. Northwestern would close the game with five-straight points for the 97-79 win.

NORTHWESTERN GAME BOOK

 
Team Statistics
 
After hitting over 60% of their shots in the first half, the Red Raiders cooled slightly, but still made 37 of 69 field goals for 53.6%. From long range, Northwestern made 14 of 30 of 46.7%. At the charity stripe, the Red Raiders hit 9 of 14 for 64.3%. Peru State hit 31 of 74 field goal tries for 41.9% while make just 9 of 34 from behind the arc for 26.5%. At the free throw line, the Bobcats made 8 of 12 for 66.7%.
 
The Red Raiders also controlled the boards as they grabbed 50 rebounds compared to just 29 for the Bobcats. Northwestern dished out 22 assists while the 'Cats had 12.
 
Peru State did take care of the ball as they only had eight turnovers while Northwestern finished with 16. The Bobcats blocked two shots while the Red Raiders had one. The 'Cats also had three times as many steals as they finished with 12.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Two Bobcats finished in double figures with Tanksley leading all scorers with 39 points on 16 of 27 shooting including hitting 5 of 9 from long range. Colley finished with 16 points.
 
Simpson and Tanksley each had five rebounds while Colley and Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) each finished with four.
 
Colley dished out seven assists while five others each finished with one.
 
Vasa blocked two shots while Simpson was credited with one.
 
Colley had three steals while Townsen Jr., Deonte McReynolds (Chicago), and Switzer each nabbed two.

 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats are back in action on Saturday in the second day of the Classic as they will face the hosts, Dordt, at 4 p.m. The Defenders improved to 7-3 on Friday with a 93-90 win over Dickinson State (N.D.).
 
Peru State will play three Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) games next week. On Monday, they will face MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) at 7:30 p.m. The Pioneers are 4-3 overall and are 2-1 in the Heart.
 
On Thursday, the Bobcats will travel to Baldwin City, Kan., to face Baker at 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats are 4-5 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
 
Clarke (Iowa) will be the opponent in the Al Wheeler Activity Center on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Pride are 4-4 on the year and are 2-2 in Heart play.