(Peru, Neb.) – A buzzer-beating three-pointer by Deonte McReynolds (Chicago) tied the game at the end of regulation. It then took two overtimes with the visiting fifth-ranked William Penn (WPU) (Iowa) Statesmen pulling out a 93-88 win over Peru State Saturday afternoon.
 
William Penn improved to 27-3 on the season and 21-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Peru State fell to 16-14 overall and 15-9 in conference play.
 
The Statesmen had captured the Heart regular-season title Wednesday night and will be the number one seed in the upcoming post-season tournament. After all of the tiebreakers were applied, the Bobcats ended up as the third seed. Both teams will host first-round games Thursday night.
 
First Half Action
 
Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) made one of two free throws to put the Bobcats on the board first. After a bucket by WPU, the 'Cats went on an 11-0 run which started with a bucket by Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) in the paint. Tanksley would come back with another hoop before Nick Brannon (Las Vegas) got in the scorebook to make it 7-2. O'Nandi Brooks (Brooklyn, N.Y.) grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in to extend the lead to 9-2. With 16:45 to go, Tanksley hit a trey off an assist from Devon Colley (Las Vegas) gave Peru State its largest lead of the game at 12-2.
 
William Penn would eventually fight its way back to at 19 all tie with 10:59 on the clock. Colley would drain a three-pointer to put the Bobcats back up 22-19.

 
Later, the game were tied at 26 with just over five minutes left in the half. The Statesmen would hit a second free throw to go up by one before the Bobcats would go on a 10-0 run. A bucket by Colley was followed by a pair of free throws by Tanksley. Brannon would then make four consecutive free throws to put the lead to seven at 34-27. A bucket by Tanksley in the paint would give the 'Cats a nine-point advantage at 36-27 with 2:12 left in the half.
 
Once again, the Statesmen would storm back and tied it at 38 before making two of three free throws to lead 40-38 at halftime.
 
Second Half Action
 
The second 20 minutes was tight throughout with the largest lead by either team being six. In addition, there were eight ties and four lead changes.
 
Colley tied the game with a bucket to start the half in the paint for the first tie. The game would then be tied at 42, 47, and 51 before Brannon would hit back-to-back buckets to put Peru State up 55-51 with 13:31 to go. That would be the largest lead the 'Cats would have in the second half.
 
WPU would come back to knot it at 55 and later after it was tied at 61, the Statesmen would go on an 8-2 scoring run to have their largest lead of the half at 69-63 at the 4:26 mark.
 
Brannon would drain a pair of free throws to pull the 'Cats within four which was followed by WPU getting one of two charity tosses. With 2:22 to go, Colley hit a bucket and then made a pair of free throws and suddenly the 'Cats were back within one at 70-69 with 1:34 remaining.
 
With 39 seconds left, the Statesmen made a pair of free throws to put the lead to three at 72-69. The Bobcats would get two three-point attempts which they missed to tie the game. William Penn also missed a field goal with the rebound grabbed by Brannon with eight seconds on the clock. Tanksley found McReynolds in the corner and he calmly drained a trey to tie the game with one second left to force overtime. Peru State did get a steal on the inbound pass, but did not have enough time to get off a shot.
 
First Overtime Action
 
William Penn would lead the entire time in the overtime with the Bobcats keeping within striking distance as the Statesmen's largest lead was three at 77-74 with 1:31 left in the overtime. Tanksley hit a bucket with 1:11 left, but WPU came back with two of their own to lead 79-76 with 52 seconds left.
 
With 29 seconds to go, Colley hit a field goal and was fouled on the play. Colley hit the free throw to tie the game at 79. Both teams missed shots which could have won for either team.
 
Second Overtime Action
 
Brannon would score the first points of the second five minutes, but WPU would then go on a 12-1 run to lead 91-82 and Peru State could not match their efforts.

WILLIAM PENN GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics

 
Neither team shot the ball in the contest. WPU made 28 of 82 field goals for 34.1% which included hitting 6 of 24 from behind the arc for 25%. At the free throw line, the Statesmen were 31 of 41 for 75.6% which was the difference in the game. Peru State took 99 shots and made 33 for 33.3% and were cold from long range – different than from Wednesday night – as they hit just 6 of 40 for 15%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats were 16 of 21 for 76.2%.
 
William Penn grabbed 58 rebounds compared to 54 for Peru State. The Statesmen dished out 18 assists while the Bobcats finished with 11.
 
The 'Cats only had 11 turnovers with the Statesmen having 20 miscues. Both teams blocked a large number of shots as Peru State finished with 12 and WPU had nine. The Bobcats grabbed seven steals with WPU finishing with four.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double digits in scoring with Brannon leading all scorers with 30 points which was a season high. Colley had 23 points with Tanksley adding 22.
 
Brannon also had a game- and season-high 20 rebounds which was the most rebounds grabbed by anyone in the Heart in a single game. Brooks, Vasa, and Tanksley each had eight rebounds.
 
Colley dished out six assists with McReynolds finishing with two.
 
Vasa had six of Peru State's 12 blocks with Brannon swatting away three. Brooks, Tanksley, and Simpson each were credited with one block.
 
Brannon led the team with two steals with five others each nabbing one.
 
Upcoming Contest(s)
 
As the third seed in the Heart post-season tournament, Peru State will host Baker (Kan.) Thursday night with a time yet to be set. The Wildcats finished as the sixth seed as they were 13-11 in the Heart and 15-15 overall. The Bobcats won the season series over the Wildcats winning 77-69 at home and then taking an 80-51 win in Baldwin City, Kan.
 
With a win, Peru State would face either second-seeded Clarke (Iowa) or seventh-seeded Missouri Valley on Saturday, March 7. The game would be played at the highest seed remaining.