(Peru, Neb.) – The Bobcat men's basketball team rebounded from a disappointing loss last Saturday at Mount Mercy (Iowa) to top the visiting Graceland Yellowjackets Wednesday night in Peru.
 
Peru State topped the Yellowjackets 93-81 in Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) action. The 93 points for the 'Cats was a season-high.
 
The Bobcats improved to 16-13 overall on the year and more importantly to 15-8 in conference play. Graceland fell to 9-21 on the season and dropped to 6-18 in the Heart.
 
First Half Action
 
With the exception of the first two minutes, Peru State led most of the first half.

 
Graceland scored first before Deonte McReynolds (Chicago) drained a three-pointer off an assist from Nick Brannon (Las Vegas) to put the 'Cats ahead 3-2 at the 18:41 mark. The 'Jackets came right back with a bucket, but Brannon would put the Bobcats ahead for the rest of the half with a bucket in the paint off an assist from Devon Colley (Las Vegas).
 
Peru State's first double-digit lead came at the 15:25 mark when Isaac Simpson (Papillion) hit a three-pointer on an assist from Henry Tanksley (Lincoln).  
 
Later, with 12:21 to go in the first 20 minutes, Colley hit a bucket in the paint to give Peru State a 23-8 lead – the largest lead in the first half.
 
The Yellowjackets would go on a 13-3 run to cut the deficit to just five with 6:31 left in the half. Brannon would dish off to McReynolds who hit another three to stop that run.
 
With 3:28 to go in the half, Peru State was back up by double digits after Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) hit a bucket in the paint coming off an assist from Brannon. The 'Cats led 35-24 at that point.
 
Graceland would continue to fight its way back into the game and pulled within seven at halftime as they trailed 40-33.
 
Second Half Action
 
After Graceland scored the first bucket of the second half, Vasa again got an assist from Brannon to get the 'Cats on the board.
 
The 'Jackets would eventually tie it at 44, but Tanksley came through with a three-pointer to break the tie. Later, the game was tied at 49 with 15:46 to go. That tie was broken by Colley as he made one of two free throws.
 
The final tie of the game came with 14:19 on the clock and score was knotted at 52. Colley would find McReynolds who drained another triple. Vasa would follow with a three off an assist from Brannon to give the 'Cats a six-point cushion.
 
Peru State would eventually build its lead again to double digits at 75-65 after Vasa hit another three-pointer – this time on an assist from Tanksley with 6:32 left in the game.
 
The Bobcats would have its largest lead of the second half of 13 at 83-70 after O'Nandi Brooks (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit a bucket in the paint.
 
Again, the Yellowjackets continued to fight and with just over two minutes, Graceland had pulled back within six at 85-79.
 
McReynolds would hit a pair of free throws and then Tanksley hit a trey off an assist from McReynolds to pretty much ice the game.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball well from the floor, but struggled at the free throw line. Peru State made 29 of 53 from the floor for 54.7% which included hitting 13 of 27 from long range for 48.1%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats made 22 of 34 for 64.7%. Graceland connected on 33 of 70 field goals for 47.1% while making 10 of 25 from behind the arc of 40%. At the free throw line, the 'Jackets went 5 for 9 for 55.6%.
 
The Yellowjackets actually held a rebounding edge as they grabbed 35 boards compared to 32 for the 'Cats. Graceland also dished out one more assist than Peru State as they finished with 22.
 
Both teams played a pretty clean game with only two turnovers. Peru State blocked two shots while the Yellowjackets had one. Graceland finished with five steals while the 'Cats nabbed four.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
The five Bobcat starters finished in double figures with one other just one shy of the mark. Tanksley led all scorers with 22 points on 8 of 16 shooting. Vasa, Colley, and McReynolds each added 15 points while Brannon contributed 12. Simpson was one shy as he finished with nine points on three of five from distance.
 
Brannon finished with a double-double as he grabbed a game-high ten rebounds. Tanksley added six boards with McReynolds grabbing five.
 
Brannon flirted with a triple-double as he dished out eight assists while Colley finishing with seven. Tanksley and McReynolds each handed out three assists.
 
Vasa blocked two Yellowjacket shots.
 
Tanksley and Brannon were each credited with two steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State has one regular-season contest remaining this Saturday against league-leading and fifth-ranked William Penn (Iowa) at 4 p.m. The Statesmen secured the regular-season title on Monday and are presently 26-3 overall and are 20-3 in the Heart. It will be senior day for the Bobcats which will occur between games.
 
The Bobcats, by winning over Graceland, secured at least one home post-season contest which will be held next Thursday, March 5, with an opponent to be determined by the end of Saturday's games. Peru State will be either the third or fourth seed depending the outcome of their game, as well as, how MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and Benedictine (Kan.) fare as well.