(Peru, Neb.) – Very balanced scoring helped lead the Peru State men's basketball team to a road win in Des Moines Wednesday night over Grand View. Four Bobcats were in double figures with one other one point away from double digits as they topped the Vikings 88-78.
 
Peru State improved to 8-6 overall and more importantly 7-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Vikings fell to 3-11 on the season and 1-8 in conference play.
 
First Half Action
 

The Vikings scored first with a trey which was quickly countered by a bucket by Devon Colley (Las Vegas) at the 17:55 mark. Grand View would hit another three-pointer only to see Colley make a pair of free throws. Nick Brannon (Las Vegas) would tie it with a bucket after grabbing an offensive rebound at the 16:34 point on the clock.
 
After the Vikings regained the lead with a hoop, Brannon drained a trey off an assist from Colley and the Bobcats took the lead at 9-8. Peru State would actually hold the lead for the rest of the first half.
 
Isaac Simpson (Papillion) would hit a pair of free throws which was followed by a field goal by Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) which came off an assist from Colley. With 13:23 left in the first 20 minutes, the Bobcats led 13-8.
 
The Bobcats would reach a double-digit lead at the 11:15 mark when Colley hit a trey off an assist from Simpson. The 'Cats led 24-12 at that point. A Kendrick Robinson (Chicago) bucket off an assist from Nate Townsen Jr. (Richton Park, Ill.) gave Peru State its largest lead at that point of 14 at 26-12.
 
With 8:34 left in the half, after Townsen Jr. hit a pair of free throws, the Bobcats still lead by 14 at 33-19. It was from that point on where Grand View started to claw their way back into the contest. The Vikings would outscore the Bobcats 20-8 to get back within two at 41-39 with 2:27 left in the half.
 
Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) would hit a pair of free throws to extend the Bobcat lead to four. After the Vikings hit one of two free throws, Simpson hit a bucket only to see the Vikings getting a hoop right before the half ended.
 
Peru State took a 45-42 lead into the locker room at halftime.

 
Second Half Action
 
Grand View came out of the half and hit a trey to tie the game at 45 apiece. Townsen Jr. made a field goal at the 19:24 mark to put the Bobcats back up. However, the Vikings started the second half like they did the first, with another trey to lead 48-47.
 
With 18:57 left in the game, a basket by Townsen Jr. would actually give Peru State the lead for good, even though the entire half was close throughout.
 
Peru State extended its early lead to nine at 57-48 after Colley hit a field goal off an assist from Robinson with 17:47 left in the game.
 
The game would be within single digits during the entire second half until right at the end. Grand View would be within two at the 7:24 and 6:31 points in the game, but could not get any closer.
 
At the end, Robinson was clutch at the charity stripe as he made four straight free throws to seal the win at 88-78.

GRAND VIEW GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 

Both teams shot the ball well in the game. Peru State finished the contest making 29 of 61 field goals for 47.5% which included hitting 7 of 22 from long range for 31.8%. At the free throw line, the Bobcats had one of their better nights making 23 of 29 for 79.3%. Grand View connected on 27 of 62 field goal attempts for 43.5% and shot the ball better from behind the arc than the 'Cats as they made 11 of 28 for 39.3%. At the charity stripe, the Vikings went 13 of 20 for 65%.
 
The Bobcats held an edge in rebounding as they grabbed 41 boards compared to 34 for Grand View. The Vikings finished with one more assist than the 'Cats as they grabbed 15.
 
Grand View had 15 turnovers in the contest while the Bobcats had 13 miscues. The 'Cats blocked five shots with the Vikings swatting away four Peru State attempts. Peru State nabbed seven steals compared to four for Grand View.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Colley and Robinson each finished with 21 points as they tied for game-high honors. Tanksley added 12 and Townsen Jr. finished with 11. Brannon was just one shy of double figures.
 
Colley finished with a double-double as he grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Robinson and Brannon each had eight boards.
 
Colley also led all competitors as he finished with six assists. Simpson, Tanksley, Townsen Jr., and Robinson each dished out two.
 
Vasa led the team with two blocks while Simpson, Tanksley, and Townsen Jr. were each credited with one.
 
Robinson nabbed four steals with Vasa, Colley, and McReynolds each having one.

 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats will head to Oskaloosa, Iowa, Saturday to face NAIA DI's fifth-ranked William Penn Statesmen at 4 p.m. The Statesmen are presently 14-1 overall and are one game ahead of the Bobcats in the league standings with an 8-1 mark.
 
Then, on Wednesday, January 15, Peru State will be back home to host Benedictine (Kan.) at 7:30 p.m. The Ravens are just one game back of the 'Cats in the Heart with a 6-3 mark. Benedictine is 8-7 overall.