(Peru, Neb.) – William Penn University (WPU) showed why they are ranked #4 in the men's basketball NAIA poll as they cruised past the Bobcats in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Wednesday night.
 
WPU won against the 'Cats at home with a score of 105-81. The Statesmen improve to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North. As the Bobcats fall to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Heart North.
 
First Half Action
 
William Penn won the opening tip off of the game. But, Amitai Afenjar (Los Angles, Calif.) stole the ball in the opening minutes of the game for a fast break layup as Peru State struck first in this conference matchup.

 
The scoring went back and forth as William Penn took a lead of 14-6 at the 15:25 mark of the contest. The Bobcats made a run starting with Isaac Simpson's (Papillion) three-pointer off an assist by Skyler Wilson (Omaha). Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) got in on the action with a three-pointer of his own to cut WPU's lead back to two at 14-12 with 14:34 left in the first half of the game.
 
DJ Fields (Omaha) got in on the scoring action with a two-pointer coming off an assist from Wilson as the 'Cats cut the lead to one 16-15 at the 12:41 mark.
 
WPU would go on a 15 to 1 run on the 'Cats before Afenjar hit a field goal off an assist by Craig Jordon (Compton, Calif.) to make the score 31-18 at the 9:10 mark.
 
The Bobcats made a little run to get the lead back down to single digits as Afenjar hit another field goal to cut the lead 41-34.
 
The first half ended as the Statesmen would go on a 4-1 run to take a ten-point advantage in the first 20 minutes of the game to lead 45-35.
 
Second Half Action
 
William Penn would score the first five points of the second half before Will Lybaek (Trondheim, Norway) hit a field goal to cut into WPU lead with a score of 50-37 at the 18:52 mark in the final 20 minutes of the game.
 
WPU would go on another 7-1 run as Jordan would make one of two free throws with a score of 52-38 at the 18:26 mark of the second half.
 
The 'Cats would go on a 10-3 run with two three-pointers coming from Tyrece Griggs (Omaha) and Wilson off an assist from Afenjar and two field goals coming from Simpson and Wilson. The Statesmen still led 60-50 14:39 mark.
 
This would be the closest the Bobcats would get in the game as William Penn led by double-digits the rest of the contest.
The Statesmen would lead by 21 at the 8:52 mark and the scoring would go back and forth as the 'Cats would cut their lead to under 20. Then WPU would go back up by 20, with their largest lead coming at the 2:14 mark at 105-75.

 
WPU would not score again as the Bobcats would score the final five points of the game when Tyler Witt (Falls City) hit a field goal and Anthony Braggs Jr. (Tacoma, Wash.) would make one out of two free throws. Witt would make another shot to cut the lead to 24.

WILLIAM PENN GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Statesmen connected on 42 of 82 field goals for 51.2% which included making 10 of 30 from long distance for 33.3%. At the free throw line, WPU made 11 of 20 for 55%. Peru State connected on 32 of 73 field goals for 43.8% which included 5 of 18 from long distance for 27.7%. at the free throw line, the 'Cats 12 of 30 for 40% - their lowest shooting percentage of the season at the charity stripe.
 
WPU grabbed 56 rebounds – 18 of which were on the offensive end of the court. Peru State grabbed 44 rebounds.
 
The Statesmen handed out 28 assists compared to just seven for the Bobcats. William Penn committed six turnovers while the 'Cats had 12 turnovers.
 
William Penn blocked six shots with Peru State not having one. WPU finished the game with nine steals while the Bobcats had six.
 
Peru Individual Stats
 
Tanksley led the way for the 'Cats as he finished with team high 20 points on 9 of 21 shots.
 
Three other Bobcats finished in double figures including Wilson 14, Afenjar 11, and Griggs 10.
 
Jordan led the way with seven rebounds with two of them being offensive boards. Tanksley and Afenjar each added six rebounds.

 
Wilson dished out a team high four assists, while Afenjar, Jordan, and Armahn Downing (Topeka, Kan.) each dished out one assist.
 
Fields, Afenjar, Tanksley, Wilson, Braggs Jr., and Simpson each registered one steal in the contest.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State has five more contests in 2020 before taking a break. Three out of the five games will be in front of the home crowd.
 
On Saturday, Dec. 5, the Bobcats will be hosting MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) at 4 p.m. The Pioneers are 4-4 overall and 1-4 in Heart play.
 
Monday, Dec. 7, the 'Cats will be hosting Graceland University at 7:30 p.m. The Yellowjackets are 2-3 overall and 1-3 in Heart action.
 
They will then travel to Clarke in Dubuque, Iowa, on Dec. 12 for a 4 p.m. tip-off time. The Pride is 3-2 overall and 2-1 in Heart play.
 
On Dec. 15, Bobcats will travel to Graceland in Lamoni, Iowa for a 7:30 p.m. tip. The Yellowjackets are 2-3 overall and 1-3 in Heart action. This will be the second time playing the Jackets in the last three games.
 
To wrap up the year 2020 the 'Cats will be hosting a non-conference opponent. Concordia University Bulldogs will come from the tough Great American Plains Athletic Conference to play. The game is scheduled for Dec. 30, at 7:30 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.