(Peru, Neb.) – It appeared that a 12-point lead for 3:47 left in any game would be enough. However, the Avila (Mo.) Eagles did not let that stop them as they outscored the Peru State men's basketball team 13-1 in the second half to tie the game at 64 and force an overtime.
 
In the OT, the Eagles eventually claimed their fourth win of the season as the toppled the Bobcats 75-72 in Peru Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, Avila moved to 4-2 on the year. Peru State suffered their first loss and are now 2-1.
 
First Half Action

 
It was Avila which led the majority of the first half. The Eagles scored the first five points of the game before Montenia Nelson (Kenosha, Wisc.) made a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 5-2 with 17:46 on the clock.
 
The Eagles would score the next six points to go up by 11 at 13-2 with 13:42 left in the first half.
 
With 10:26 remaining, Tyler Witt (Falls City) would cut the lead to two at 15-13 with a bucket in the paint off an assist from Henry Tanksley (Lincoln).
 
Avila would still hold onto the lead and led by seven at 27-20 with just under five minutes remaining in the first 20 minutes.
 
A bucket by Tyrece Griggs (Omaha) cut the lead to five and then Nelson made one of two free throws to pull the 'Cats within four.
 
DJ Fields (Omaha) also made one of two free throws and it was now Avila leading 27-24 with 2:35 on the clock.
 
Nelson would cut the deficit to one with a bucket in the paint with 48 ticks on the clock. Later, with two seconds left in the half, Tanksley would dish off to Fields who put the Bobcats in the lead at halftime 28-27.
 
Second Half Action
 
With 30 seconds gone in the second half, Avila put the first points on the board to regain the lead.
 
The Bobcats would go on a nine-point run which started with a bucket by Fields and then ended with a trey by Fields off an assist from Isaac Simpson (Papillion). The score was 37-29 Peru State with 17:10 left in the game.
 
Peru State would have its first double-digit lead at 47-37 after Witt hit a pair of free throws with 13:26 on the clock.
 
With 7:42 left in the game, after Witt made one of two free throws, Peru State had its largest lead of 13 at 57-44. The 'Cats would still lead by ten at 63-53 before the Eagles would mount their comeback.
 
The Eagles took a one-point lead at 64-63 with 38 seconds left. The Bobcats were able to tie it with one of two free throws by Tanksley.
 
Avila had a decent shot with two seconds left which Peru State rebounded. A last-second attempt by the 'Cats did not fall which forced overtime.

 
Overtime Action
 
Simpson started the overtime with a trey off an assist from Tanksley. Avila would regain the lead eventually with a pair of buckets to go up 68-67 at the 4:04 mark.
 
Tanksley would give Peru State its final lead of the game at 69-68 before the Eagles would score five points and managed to keep the Bobcats at bay to hang on for the win.

AVILA GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball pretty well from the floor. The Eagles hit 27 of 68 from the floor from 39.7%, but did struggle a little from outside making 7 of 27 for 25.9%. At the charity stripe, Avila connected on 14 of 20 for 70%. Peru State actually shot the ball better from the floor than Avila as they made 24 of 57 field goals for 42.1% and hit 8 of 24 from behind the arc for 33.3%. The 'Cats did struggle a little at the free throw line hitting 16 of 27 for 59.3%.
 
Both teams finished with 38 rebounds. Peru State dished out one more assist as they finished with 13.
 
Turnovers were a challenge for both teams as the Bobcats had 24 – eight more than Avila.

Each team blocked two shots. The Eagles grabbed three more steals than the 'Cats as they nabbed 11.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Four Bobcats finished in double digits in scoring. Nelson led the team with 19 points while Tanksley added 16. Fields contributed 14 with Witt adding ten.
 
Fields led the team with eight rebounds with Tanksley, Griggs, and Witt each adding six boards.
 
Tanksley dished out a game-high eight assists while Simpson handed out two.
 
Tanksley and Griggs were each credited with one block.
 
Tanksley also led the team with a game-high four steals while Will Lybaek (Trondheim, Norway) had three.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State's next contest was supposed to be on Nov. 18 at home against Graceland (Iowa). However, Yellowjacket officials contacted Peru State to notify them that their basketball team would not be able to play that game due to a number of their players being in quarantine due to COVID-19.
 
Officially, the Bobcats' next game will be Saturday, Nov. 21 against Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, unless the Peru State staff can schedule anything in the next 13 days.
 
Peru State's next home game is Tuesday, November 24, at 7:30 p.m. against Missouri Valley.