(Peru, Neb.) – Peru State led by as many as 15 to start the second half and then trailed by one with a little over four minutes to go. However, the Bobcat men's basketball team found enough gas in the tank to come back and top Graceland 82-75 in Lamoni, Iowa, Saturday night.
 
While every game is important, it was a key game for the Bobcats as they were able to maintain their spot in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) standings. Currently, the 'Cats are in a three-way tie for second with MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and Benedictine (Kan.) with 8-4 conference marks. Overall, Peru State improved to 9-8 on the year. Graceland fell to 7-11 and 4-8.
 
First Half Action
 
Graceland scored the first four points of the game before Kendrick Robinson (Chicago) completed an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 4-3. Devon Colley (Las Vegas) drained a trey off an assist from Robinson to give Peru State a 6-4 lead.

 
Graceland would tie with a bucket only to see the 'Cats rattle off seven-straight points starting with a bucket by Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) off an assist from Colley making it 8-6 at the 16:17 mark. Robinson followed with a bucket and then Tanksley drained a trey on an assist from Colley and suddenly the Bobcats were up 13-6 just a minute later.
 
Later, with 11:05 left in the first 20 minutes, a three-pointer by Isaac Simpson (Papillion) with the assist coming from Robinson. This gave the 'Cats their largest lead to that point of 12 at 24-12. The Yellowjackets would fight its way back with a 9-0 run to cut the lead to three at 24-21 with 8:28 left in the first half.
 
Colley made back-to-back buckets to extend the lead back to seven at 28-21. Once again, the 'Jackets came back to within two at 28-26. A trey from Colley on an assist from Nick Brannon (Las Vegas) put the Bobcats back up by five.

The 'Jackets cut the lead to four with a free throw with Brannon getting a three-point play to extend the lead to seven. With 2:08 left in the half, O'Nandi Brooks (Brooklyn, N.Y.) got a bucket on an assist from Robinson to make it 36-27. With 43 seconds left, Robinson hit a trey to extend Peru State's lead to 12 at halftime at 39-27.
 
Second Half Action
 
Simpson got an assist from Colley and hit a trey to give the Bobcats their largest lead of the game of 15 at 42-27 with 19:50 left in the contest.

 
With 17:46 to go, the Yellowjackets had cut the lead to single digits at 43-34. Buckets by Brannon and Tanksley to extend the lead back to 13 at 47-34.
 
Six minutes later, Graceland had pulled to within three at 56-53. Brooks and Robinson came through with back-to-back to hoops and then Brannon hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 62-53 with 8:13 left in the half.
 
Graceland would go on an 11-2 run to take the lead at 65-64 with 4:29 left in the game. Robinson fed Tanksley who hit a bucket to give Peru State the lead back – one they would not relinquish. Robinson would then hit a two-pointer and then fed Colley who hit a trey. With 2:30 left, the Bobcats led 71-65.
 
The 'Jackets would again get back within two at 73-71 with 1:30 left. Tanksley hit a bucket and then Colley made a pair of free throws to get the 'Cats out in front by six.
 
Peru State would be good at the free throw line down the stretch making five of six to seal the 82-75 win.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Bobcats shot the ball well in the contest. Peru State made 27 of 51 from the floor for 52.9% including hitting 9 of 21 from behind the arc for 42.9%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats were 19 of 24 for 79.2%. Graceland connected on 27 of 68 field goal attempts for 39.7% and made 12 of 39 from long range for 30.8%. At the free throw line, the 'Jackets hit 9 of 15 for 60%.

 
Peru State had a slight rebounding edge as they grabbed 34 compared to 31 for the 'Jackets. Graceland did dish out a couple more assists as they had 19 while the 'Cats had 16.
 
The 'Cats did have 20 turnovers which was eight more than Graceland. The Bobcats blocked five shots while the Yellowjackets had one. The 'Jackets added ten steals with Peru State having eight.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Four Bobcats finished in double digits in scoring. Peru State was led by Robinson and Colley who both had 22 game-high points while Tanksley and Brannon each added 13. Simpson finished with eight.
 
Colley had a game-high 11 rebounds to finish with a double-double. Brannon grabbed eight boards while Brooks nabbed six.
 
Robinson dished out eight assists while Colley handed out six.
 
Brooks was credited with two blocks while Simpson, Colley, and Tanksley each had one.

Brannon grabbed three steals with Tanksley finishing with two.

 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats will play a pair of games in Missouri this week as the second half of Heart play begins. Wednesday night, the 'Cats will face Missouri Valley in Marshall, Mo., at approximately 7:30 p.m. The Vikings have the same overall record as Peru State, but are two games behind in conference play at 6-6. Mo Valley had surprised the Bobcats in Peru early in conference play 78-75. The Vikings have dropped their last two games.
 
It will be a battle of the 'Cats on Saturday, January 25, when Peru State is in Canton, Mo., to take on Culver-Stockton. The Wildcats are 3-13 on the season and are 2-10 in the Heart. Game time is approximately 4 p.m.
 
It will be another battle of the 'Cats when the Wildcats of Baker visit Peru State on Monday, January 27. Baker is currently 8-9 on the season and are 6-6 in Heart play. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
The game with Baker will be Peru State's Coaches versus Cancer game as the normal week runs January 20 through 26, but the Bobcats are on the road.