(Peru, Neb.) – After trailing almost the entire game, the Peru State men's basketball team had put themselves in front by one point with 17 seconds to go. Then, with just five seconds to go the Bobcats blocked a shot which landed in the hands of a Culver-Stockton (C-SC) player who put it up and in as the time expired.
 
After about a five-minute review by the officials, the home-standing Wildcats prevailed 69-68 as the basket was ruled good.
 
With the win, Culver-Stockton improved to 4-14 on the year and 3-11 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Bobcats dropped below .500 overall at 9-10, but more important, are still at 8-6 in conference action.

 
First Half Action
 
Isaac Simpson (Papillion) scored the first points of the game to give Peru State its only lead until the contest was almost over. C-SC would hit a trey to lead 3-2 before Kendrick Robinson (Chicago) tied it by hitting one of two free throws.
 
The Wildcats would score seven straight before Robinson would stop the run with a bucket in the paint.
 
Culver-Stockton would eventually extend its lead to ten at 21-11 at the 10:23 mark. Later, the Wildcats had their largest lead of 12 at 29-17 with 6:15 left in the first 20 minutes.
 
It was at that point that Peru State started to make a small comeback. A bucket by Robinson was followed by one from Devon Colley (Las Vegas) to make it 29-21. Colley would hit another bucket, this time off an assist from Nick Brannon (Las Vegas) and the Bobcats had cut the deficit to six at 29-23 at the 3:20 mark.
 
Brannon would pull the Bobcats later to within four at 34-30 with a bucket with 49 ticks on the clock. C-SC responded with a trey before Brannon made a pair of free throws to end the first half. The Wildcats led 37-32 at the end of 20 minutes.

 
Second Half Action
 
C-SC hit a bucket to start the second half scoring. Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) would score the first points of the second half for the Bobcats and then Colley pulled Peru State within three with a fast-break bucket on an assist from Robinson. With 17:46 to go in the game, it was 39-36 Culver-Stockton.
 
Later, with 13:02 on the clock, Tanksley got the Bobcats within one at 44-43 with a bucket in the paint.
 
An 11-2 run would put the Wildcats up 57-45 with 8:39 to go in the game.
 
Peru State would slowly chip away at the deficit and with 18 seconds left in the game, a trey by Colley made it 67-66 Wildcats. Deonte McReynolds (Chicago) would get a steal and then hit a two-pointer to put the Bobcats up 68-67 with 15 seconds left.
 
With seven seconds left on the clock, C-SC missed one from long range and were able to grab the offensive rebound. After a Peru State timeout, with just seconds left in the game, the Wildcats were able to get another offensive rebound and the put back was good right at the buzzer for their 69-68 win.

CULVER-STOCKTON GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 

Both teams shot the ball well from the floor. The Wildcats made 26 of 60 field goals for 43.3% and connected on 10 of 25 from long range for 40%. At the free throw line, C-SC made 7 of 8 for 87.5%. Peru State made 28 of 54 for 51.9% including hitting 7 of 18 from behind the arc of 38.9%. The Bobcats did struggle at the free throw line making just 5 of 11 for 45.5%.
 
The rebounding was nearly even as Culver-Stockton finished with 33 boards compared to 31 for the Bobcats. The Wildcats had one more assist than Peru State as they dished out 14.
 
Peru State committed one more turnover than C-SC as they had 16. The Bobcats blocked five shots while the Wildcats had three. Both teams finished with six steals.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Four Bobcats finished in double figures in the loss. Colley led the team with 19 while Robinson finished with 15. Brannon and McReynolds each added 12 points.
 
Robinson tied for game-high honors in rebounding as he grabbed 11 boards. Brannon added six rebounds.
 
Colley dished out six assists while Robinson and Brannon each dished out three.
 
Colley and Brannon each blocked two shots while Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) blocked one.

 
McReynolds and Colley each grabbed two steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will face three tough contests this coming week. It starts at home on Monday night when the Baker Wildcats come to the Al Wheeler Activity Center at 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats have improved to 10-9 on the year having won their last two games and are tied with Peru State at 8-6 in the Heart.
 
This will be the Bobcats' Coaches versus Cancer – Suits and Sneakers game where there will be no admission charge, but rather a free will donation which will be given to the American Cancer Society.
 
On Thursday, Peru State will head to Olathe, Kansas, to face MidAmerica Nazarene at 7:30 p.m. The Pioneers, who are receiving votes in the latest coaches' poll, are 12-6 overall and are 8-4 in the conference.
 
Another team which is receiving votes will be the Bobcats' foe on Saturday in Dubuque, Iowa, at 2 p.m. Clarke is 14-6 on the season and are on a four-game win streak. In the Heart, they are 10-4.