(Peru, Neb.) – After suffering their first defeat of the season, the NAIA's number two team shot the ball well and was tough on the board as they defeated Peru State Saturday afternoon.
William Penn (WPU) (Iowa) took a 22-point lead in the first half and went on to top the Bobcats 90-73 in a Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Statesmen are now 12-1 overall and 10-1 in the Heart North. The Bobcats fell to 8-6 on the season and 4-5 in the North Division.
First Half Action
The Statesmen scored the first six points of the contest before the Bobcats would get on the board with a trey from
Isaac Simpson (Papillion) off an assist from
Skyler Wilson (Omaha) with 18 minutes left in the half.
Isaac Simpson had a career-high 20 points to lead
Peru State. Simpson had six treys.
Another three-pointer by Simpson, this time on an assist from
Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) knotted the score at the 17:21 mark. Later, Tanksley would hit a bucket in the paint to give the 'Cats an 8-6 lead.
William Penn would tie the score only to see
DJ Fields (Omaha) hit a three to take the lead at 11-8.
The Statesmen would go on an 18-0 run to go up 26-11 with 10:27 on the scoreboard. WPU would continue to lead throughout the half and extended the lead to 22 at halftime at 45-23.
Second Half Action
WPU would score the first basket of the second half before Tanksley got the Bobcats on the board.
The Statesmen would continue to lead throughout the second 20 minutes and went on top by as many 28 on several occasions. The last came at 70-42 with 9:52 on the clock.
Peru State would slowly lower the deficit and pulled back with 19 after a trey by
Blake Petersen (Columbus) off an assist from
Vinny Barron (Grand Prairie, Texas). Armahn Downing (Topeka, Kan.) would hit a pair of free throws to end the scoring in the contest.
WILLIAM PENN GAME BOOK
Team Statistics
The Statesmen connected on 37 of 72 field goals for 51.4%, but did struggle from behind the arc making just 5 of 26 for 19.2%. At the charity stripe, WPU was 11 of 15 for 73.3%. Peru State made 23 of 61 field goals for 37.7% and actually shot better from distance making 11 of 29 for 37.9%. At the free throw line, the Bobcats went 16 of 22 for 72.7%.
William Penn had a big rebounding edge as they grabbed 43 boards compared to 28 for the 'Cats. The Statesmen dished out 20 assists while the Bobcats finished with 13.
Both teams had 13 turnovers. The 'Cats blocked four shots with WPU finishing with two. The Statesmen finished the game with eight steals – one more than Peru State.
Peru Individual Statistics
Three Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Simpson who had 20 points on seven of ten shooting – six of eight from long range. It was a career-high output for Simpson. Tanksley finished with 15 points while Fields added 14.
DJ Fields goes to the hoop for two of his 14 points
Simpson also led the team with five rebounds while Fields and Tanksley each grabbed four.
Tanksley dished out a team-high four assists while Fields,
Tyrece Griggs (Omaha), Wilson, and Barron each finished with two.
Tyler Witt (Falls City) was credited with a game- and season-high three blocks. Simpson had the other block.
Simpson led the team with three teams with Fields nabbing two.
Upcoming Contests
The Bobcats will be on the road Wednesday night when they travel to Des Moines to face Grand View at 7:30 p.m. The Vikings are 8-3 on the season and 5-3 in the Heart North as they fell to Culver-Stockton (Mo.) on the road Saturday afternoon.
Peru State will host Clarke (Iowa) on Saturday, January 16, at 2 p.m. The Pride are presently 5-6 on the year and are 4-4 in the Heart North. Clarke has dropped three games in a row.
