(Peru, Neb.) – The Pride were hot from behind the arc and that was part of the key to take down the visiting Peru State men's basketball team Saturday afternoon in Dubuque, Iowa.
 
Clarke connected on 13 of 29 three-point tries for 44.8% and took down the 'Cats 80-69 in Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) action.
 
With the win, the Pride improved to 13-15 overall and more importantly 11-11 in conference action. The victory moved Clarke into sixth with two games remaining in the regular season.
 
Peru State fell to 18-10 overall and 13-9 in the Heart. The Bobcats are still in third in the conference and also have two conference games remaining. Winning both remaining games would assure the 'Cats of having the third seed and at least one home game in the post-season tournament. Anything less could see their conference standings change.
 
First Half Action
 
A three-pointer by Jamil Maddred (Camden, N.J.) off an assist from Lyle Hexom (Omaha) gave the 'Cats their only lead of the first half.

 
The Pride scored the next six points to take the lead which Clarke would hold the rest of the half. KeShawn Wilson (Lincoln) would hit a pair of free throws to pull the 'Cats back within one at 6-5 at the 15:25 mark.
 
Clarke would go on an 8-0 run to go up by nine at 14-5. Brandon Jones (Houston) would complete an old-fashioned three-point play to stop the run. The Pride would eventually extend their lead to 23-10 with just under ten minutes left in the first half.
 
Peru State would slowly work their way back into the contest, but it only came after both teams went on a four-minute scoring drought. Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.) hit a bucket in the paint with 5:15 left in the first 20 minutes. Hexom followed with a two-pointer before Wilson hit a bucket with 3:23 remaining. Another Hexom bucket made the score 23-18 with just 3:01 to go in the half.
 
After the Pride scored a bucket, Hexom made one of two free throws and then Wilson drained a trey to cut the deficit to three at 25-22. Tyrone Carey Jr. (Aurora, Ill.) hit a bucket with 18 seconds on the clock to pull the 'Cats within one. However, Clarke was able to get off a shot at the buzzer which was a trey to make the halftime score 28-24.
 
Second Half Action
 
The Bobcats came out of the locker room and it appeared they had figured things out. A bucket by Hexom followed by one by Jones and the game was tied 28-28 at the 18:40 mark.
 
A trey by Hexom gave the 'Cats their first lead since early in the contest. The teams would then trade buckets with Clarke eventually regaining the lead for good at 38-36 with 14:47 left in the contest.
 
The lead would be less than single digits until the Pride would go ahead by 11 at 65-54 at the 6:28 point in the second half. Once again, the 'Cats would fight back. A Hexom trey, followed by a pair of free throws by Maddred, cut the deficit to six at 65-59. A bucket by Moore pulled Peru State to within four, but that would be the closest the 'Cats would be the rest of the contest.

CLARKE GAME BOOK

Team Statistics
 
Clarke would finish the game making 26 of 62 field goals for 41.9% which included making 44.8% of their three-point attempts. At the charity stripe, the Pride made 15 of 22 for 68.2%. Peru State hit 24 of 58 field goal attempts for 41.4%, but were cooler from long range hitting just 7 of 25 for 28%. From the free throw line, the Bobcats made 14 of 20 for 70%.
 
Peru State had a slight rebounding edge as they grabbed 36 rebounds compared to 33 for the Pride. Clarke nearly doubled up the 'Cats with 13 assists while the Bobcats finished with seven.
 
The Bobcats did have trouble handling the ball as they committed 18 turnovers compared to 11 for Clarke. Peru State blocked three shots while the Pride finished with two. Both teams had seven steals.
 
Peru Player Statistics
 
Hexom led the Bobcats in scoring with 18 while Jones added 12 and Moore Jr. contributed 11. Maddred finished one point from double digits.
 
To go with his 18 points, Hexom finished with a double-double as he grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds. Jones grabbed six boards to help the cause.
 
Maddred dished out two assists with five others each finishing with one. Hexom blocked two shots with Jones being credited with the other block. Moore Jr. had two steals with seven others each having one steal.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State has two regular season games remaining with one on the road and one at home.

 
On Wednesday, the Bobcats will be traveling to Marshall, Mo., to face the Missouri Valley Vikings at 7 p.m. Two weeks ago, Missouri Valley came to Peru and stunned the 'Cats with a buzzer-beater coming away with an 87-86 win. The Vikings are 11-17 on the season and are 9-13 in the Heart. They are fighting with a bunch of teams to make the Heart's post-season tournament.
 
The final home regular season contest will be on Saturday, March 2, at 4 p.m. against Baker (Kan.). The Wildcats were Peru State's second conference foe of the season with the Bobcats winning in Baldwin City 81-74 back in November. Baker is 10-17 on the year and 7-15 in the conference. The Wildcats would have to win both of their final games to have a chance at making the post-season tournament.
 
Post-Season Action
 
The Heart's post-season tournament will begin on March 5 with seeds seven through ten playing at home sites.
 
At present, it appears Peru State could go as high as the second seed with a pair of wins or possibly as low as sixth. With a second through fourth seed, the Bobcats would host a home game on March 7 with a time to be determined.
 
A win on March 7 in the quarterfinals would put the 'Cats into the semifinals on Saturday, March 9, with the host site being the highest seed. The Heart championship is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12.