(Peru, Neb.) – The Bobcat men's basketball team picked up their fourth conference win of the season with a 77-69 win over Baker in Baldwin City, Kan., Thursday night.
 
Peru State improved to 5-4 overall while improving to 4-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Wildcats fell to 4-7 on the season and dropped to 2-4 in conference play.
 
First Half Action
 
The first half was tight throughout as there were five ties and nine lead changes.

 
Baker scored the first points of the contest with a trey before Nick Brannon (Las Vegas) hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Devon Colley (Las Vegas) with 18:58 left in the first half. Peru State's first lead would come nearly two minutes later when Brannon hit another shot in the paint on an assist from Colley.
 
The Wildcats regained the lead with a trey before Isaac Simpson (Papillion) found the range in the paint off an assist from Kendrick Robinson (Chicago) to tie the game at 6-6 with 16:33 left in the first half.
 
The game would later be tied at 9, 12, 15, and 18. Baker would go back on top with a two-pointer before Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) hit a three-pointer to make it 21-20. The Wildcats would immediately grab the lead back with a bucket.
 
At the 8:10 mark, Robinson would hit a bucket which actually would give the Bobcats the lead for the rest of the half.
 
Peru State would extend its lead to nine at 38-29 after Brannon hit a hoop in the paint on an assist from Colley.
 
Baker would score the final three points of the half to make it 38-32 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
 
Only once in the second half did Baker tie the game up and that came with 14:51 left in the game. The Wildcats had knotted the score at 43 each.
 
Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Colley and the Bobcats would never trail or be tied from that point on.

 
With 9:01 on the clock, Tanksley hit a trey to give Peru State its largest lead of the half at 64-57.
 
Baker would again pull back within three and then at the 5:41 point, Robinson hit a bucket to put the Bobcats up 68-60.
 
Peru State's largest lead in the game came with 49 seconds left after Nate Townsen Jr. (Richton Park, Ill.) hit a bucket in the paint to make the score 77-66. A trey by the Wildcats would end the game with the Bobcats winning by eight.

BAKER GAME BOOK

Team Statistics
 
The Bobcats shot the ball well from the floor as they made 30 of 54 for 55.6% and were as impressive from long range as they connected on 13 of 26 for 50%. Peru State made 4 of 6 free throws for 66.7%. Baker connected on 26 of 60 field goal tries for 43.3% and hit 9 of 27 from behind the arc for 33.3%. The Wildcats made 8 of 11 at the free throw line for 72.7%.
 
Both teams grabbed 29 rebounds. Baker dished out 20 assists compared to 18 for the Bobcats.
 
Peru State finished with 11 turnovers while the Wildcats committed 13 miscues.
 
The Bobcats blocked three shots and had eight steals. Baker had one blocked shot and six steals.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double-digit scoring. Tanksley led all scorers as he finished with 28 points on 11 of 16 shooting. Robinson added 22 points while Brannon added 11.

 
Robinson and Brannon each grabbed a game-high eight rebounds while Josh Mcauley (Aurora, Ill.), who was playing his first minutes as a Bobcat, grabbed four.
 
Colley dished out a game-high eight assists with Robinson and Brannon each handing out three.
 
Robinson, Mcauley, and Vasa each blocked one shot.
 
Robinson and Colley were each credited with two steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will be back in action on Saturday as they host Clarke (Iowa) at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Pride are currently 5-5 o the season and are 3-3 in the Heart having topped Mount Mercy (Iowa) Thursday night.
 
Saturday's game will be the basketball teams' toy drive. Those attending the game can get in free if they bring a toy for Growing Great Kids. In addition, at halftime of both games, the Fantastic Flyers will be performing.
 
After a week off for finals, the 'Cats will be travelling to Fayette, Mo., to face Central Methodist at 4 p.m. on Dec. 14. The Eagles are off to a 3-8 start and are 2-4 in conference play having dropped four-straight Heart games.