(Peru, Neb.) – A first look at the final stats would belie the fact that the Peru State men's basketball team's season came to an end Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo.
 
The William Carey (Miss.) (WCU) Crusaders topped the Bobcats 95-89 in the first round of the NAIA Division 1 Men's Basketball Championships held in the historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown KC.
 
The 'Cats actually shot the ball better on the floors than WCU. However, the Crusaders had a rebounding edge which helped give them an edge in second chance points. In addition, William Carey outscored Peru State 14-6 in points off turnovers.

With the win, the Crusaders – the fourth seed in the Cramer bracket – will move on to play Mid-America Christian (Okla.) (MACU) at 5:45 p.m. today as their record improved to 23-9. MACU pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament to this point as they upset the top-seeded Tougaloo (Miss.) team 73-64.
 
With the loss, Peru State finished its season 23-11 after participating in its second-straight national tournament.

 
First Half Action
 
Brandon Jones (Houston) scored the first points of the contest after grabbing an offensive rebound and putting it back up for the 'Cats at the 18:57 mark. The Crusaders would make one of two free throws before Lyle Hexom (Omaha) scored in the paint off an assist from Jamil Maddred (Camden, N.J.).
 
Two straight buckets gave the Crusaders a 5-4 lead with 17:26 left in first half. Another Jones bucket put the 'Cats back on top only to see WCU score again. With 16:53 remaining in the first 20 minutes, a Hexom bucket gave the Bobcats an 8-7 advantage. That would prove to be the last time Peru State led the remainder of the game.
 
The Crusaders would maintain a single-digit lead until 10:48 in the first half when they led 25-15. A pair of free throws by Jones and then a pair by Hexom would pull Peru State back within six at 25-19 with just under nine minutes remaining in the half.
 
With 6:58 on the clock, Hexom would hit a three-pointer and suddenly the 'Cats were back within one a 28-27, but still could not gain the load.
 
A bucket by DeMon Hyler (Kansas City, Mo.) would eventually tie the game at 30-30 with just over six minutes remaining in the half. However, the Crusaders would go on a 6-0 run forcing the Bobcats to continue to play from behind.
 
Peru State would keep the contest to a two-possession game the rest of the half with WCU leading 48-43 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
 
With just 12 seconds off the clock in the final 20 minutes, Jones hit a bucket in the paint to pull the 'Cats within three.
 
William Carey would go on a 13-2 run after that point and led 61-47 with just under 15 minutes to go in the game.
 
A trey and one of two free throws by Hexom got the Bobcats back to a ten-point deficit at 61-51 at the 13:53 mark.
 
The Crusaders would charge back and for nearly the next ten minutes, William Carey would lead by more than double-digits.

With 4:21 to go, Jones hit a bucket in the paint to make the score 81-72. Over a minute later, Tyrone Carey, Jr. (Aurora, Ill.) hit a trey off an assist from Jones and suddenly the excitement was back in the Bobcat crowd. The score was now 81-75 Crusaders.
 
Another 6-0 run by William Carey quieted the Bobcat faithful, but the team kept fighting back. Carey Jr. would later hit another trey on another assist from Jones to make it 91-83, but the 'Cats had to foul. The Crusaders would make their free throw down the stretch which nullified late three-pointers by KeShawn Wilson (Lincoln) and Hexom.

WILLIAM CAREY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Crusaders hit 33 of 67 field goals for 49.3% which included hitting 6 of 23 from long range for 26.1%. From the charity stripe, WCU made 23 of 31 for 74.2%. Peru State actually was a hair better than William Carey from the floor making 30 of 60 field goal tries for 50% and hit 11 of 30 from long range for 36.7%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats made 18 of 29 of 62.1%.
 
William Carey did have a rebounding edge as they grabbed 41 boards compared to 32 for the Bobcats. The Crusaders finished with a few more assists as they dished out 16 compared to 11 for the 'Cats. Peru State finished with 15 turnovers while WCU had nine.
 
Peru State blocked three shots and grabbed five steals while WCU had one block and four steals.
 
Peru Player Statistics
 
Four Bobcats finished in double figures. Hexom had a game-high 30 points while Jones added 21. Hyler contributed 14 with Carey Jr. adding 13.
 
Hexom finished with his 20^th double-double of the year as he grabbed a game-high ten boards. Jones grabbed eight rebounds.
 
Jones led the team with five assists while Maddred dished out two. Hexom, Jones, and Michael Wardy (Roca) each blocked one shot. Hexom, Jones, Hyler, Terry Moore Jr. (Kansas City, Kan.), and Carey Jr. each were credited with one steal.
 
End of Season
 
The 23-11 final record gives the 18-19 team the most wins in a season since the 1996-97 season where the Bobcats finished 25-9 and reached the national tournament at the Division II level. It was third time in the last four years that Peru State has won 20 or more games. This is a feat that has not happened since 1947-51 which saw four Newt Kyle coached teams win more than 20 games each year.
 
The 'Cats will say good bye to seven seniors which provided the bulk of the scoring and playing time this season.