(Peru, Neb.) – In playing the same team within eight days, the Peru State men's basketball team swept the season series with the Graceland Yellowjackets Tuesday night.
 
The Bobcats had a good first half and then extended their lead in the second to defeat the Yellowjackets 84-63 in Lamoni, Iowa.
 
The 'Cats improved to 6-5 on the season and more importantly went to 4-4 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. Graceland fell to 2-7 overall and 1-7 in conference play.
 
First Half Action
 

It did not look like the Bobcats were ready at the start of the game as the 'Jackets scored the first seven points.
 
With 16:10 on the clock, Carl Brown (Omaha) put the Bobcats on the scoreboard as he hit a three-pointer off an assist from Skyler Wilson (Omaha). Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) would follow with his first two points of the contest to make it 7-5 at the 15:39 mark.
 
The Yellowjackets would lead by as many as six at 21-15 before the 'Cats went on a little run. Wilson hit a bucket in the paint which was followed by one from Tanksley to make it 21-19. At the 8:28 mark, Tanksley hit a trey to give Peru State its first lead at 22-21.
 
Later it was tied at 26-26 after which the Bobcats would go on a 10-0 run to take the lead for what would be the rest of the contest. Tyler Witt (Falls City) scored in the paint and then Tanksley drained a trey. Tyrece Griggs (Omaha) followed with a three-pointer of his own off an assist from Tanksley. Then Craig Jordan (Compton, Calif.) made a pair of free throws and suddenly the Bobcats lead 38-28 with 3:16 left in the first 20 minutes.
 
Peru State would have its largest lead of 15 in the first half with 48 seconds left in the half when Brown hit a trey off an assist from Tanksley.
 
The Bobcats would eventually lead 46-33 at the halftime break.
 
Second Half Action
 
The 'Jackets would score the first three points of the second half to cut the deficit to nine before Tanksley scored the first Bobcat points to make it 48-37 at the 18:21 mark.
 
DJ Fields (Omaha) extended the lead to 13 with a bucket in the paint off a Tanksley dime.
 
It was at that point that Graceland picked up a little fire and would go on a 19-8 run to pull within two at 58-56 with 10:26 remaining in the game. Wilson would hit a bucket to put the 'Cats back up by four. The
'Jackets would hit one of two free throws to pull back within three, but that would be as close as Graceland would be the rest of the game.
 
With 5:10 remaining, a pair of free throws by Tanksley put Peru State back up by double digits at 71-60.
 
Armahn Downing (Topeka, Kan.) would score the final two points of the contest on a pair of free throws to give the 'Cats their largest lead of the game.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State had a good shooting night as they connected on 31 of 64 field goals for 48.4% which included making 6 of 18 from distance for 33.3%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats were 16 of 20 for 80%. Graceland connected on 23 of 63 field goals for 36.5% and make 7 of 29 from behind the arc for 24.1%. At the charity stripe, the Yellowjackets went 10 of 17 for 58.8%.
 
The Bobcats had a slight rebounding edge as they grabbed 39 points compared to 32 for the 'Jackets.
 
Graceland dished out 11 assists while Peru State handed out seven.
 
The Yellowjackets finished with 17 turnovers compared to 15 for the Bobcats.
 
The 'Jackets blocked twice as many shots as they finished with four swats.
 
Graceland had eight steals while the 'Cats finished the contest with seven.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 

Ten different Bobcats finished in the scoring column as they had three in double figures.
 
Tanksley had a game-high 29 points on 12 of 23 shooting. Fields came off the bench to score 12 while Jordan added 11. 
 
Jordan led the team with eight rebounds while Tanksley and Wilson each grabbing seven.
 
Tanksley dished out three assists to lead the team in that category.
 
Isaac Simpson (Papillion) and Tanksley were each credited with one block.
 
Wilson had two steals to lead the team with five others each nabbing one.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats will play a pair of non-conference games before heading back into Heart action.
 
Peru State will host one contest yet in 2020 as the Concordia Bulldogs will be the guests on Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. At present, the Bulldogs are 10-3 on the season and will play one more game before taking a little break.
 
The Bobcats will start 2021 on the road as they head to Madison, S.D., to face Dakota State on January 2 at 7 p.m. The Trojans are currently 2-3 on the year, but will play three more games before facing Peru State to start the new year.
 
The 'Cats will play their first home and Heart game of 2021 on January 9 at 4 p.m. when they host the second-ranked William Penn (Iowa) Statesmen.