(Peru, Neb.) – On Tuesday, Nov. 1, the Peru State men's basketball team played in Sioux City, Iowa, versus #12 Morningside College. The Mustangs would show why they are one of the top teams in the NAIA as they won 83-56 to give the Bobcats their first loss of the season.
 
Morningside improved to 1-0 on the season while Peru State fell to 1-1 on the season.
 
1^st Half
 
The Mustangs struck first in the game and led 2-0. Peru State's Jibril Harris (Chicago, Ill.) nailed a three off the assist from Troy Houghton (Omaha) as the Bobcats had their first lead in the game at 3-2 with 19:31 left to go until intermission.
 
The lead would change many times in the first couple of possessions of the game. Peru State made a layup from Houghton to give the 'Cats the largest lead by any team thus far at 9-6. The Mustangs would then go on a 10-0 to take the lead right back at 16-9 with 13:27 remaining.
 
The Bobcats would score four straight points to cut the Mustangs lead to three off a Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) layup and a pair of Harris free throws. The score was still in favor of Morningside at 16-13 with 11:37 until halftime.
 
Morningside led by ten at 26-16 at the 8:28 mark. Peru State then went on an 8-0 run to get within two of the Mustangs off a made three by Ajantae Hogan (Lincoln), a Hogan layup and-one off the assist from Houghton, and a Dedoch Chan (Rochester, Minn.) made jumper.
 
The Mustangs led by 12 at the break with the score at 41-29.
 
2^nd Half
 
Morningside would go on a 7-0 run to start the second half as they led 48-29. A made layup by Harris off the assist from Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.) would stop their run with 17:44 remaining in the game. Harris would get another layup to go in as the Bobcats try to cut into Morningside's lead.
 
With 14:05 remaining, Skyler Wilson (Omaha) made a layup to get within 12 of the Mustangs at 53-41.
 
Morningside outscored Peru State 33-15 in the last 14 minutes of the game as they would give the Bobcats their first loss of the season 83-56.
 
Stats
 
Peru State shot 19-47 for 40.4% which included 5-15 for 33.3% from three. At the charity stripe the Bobcats were 13-17 for 76.58%.
 
The 'Cats only had two players in double-digits as Harris and Wilson each had 11.
 
Houghton led the team with three assists while Wilson added two.
 
Harris would have two team-high blocks while Houghton had team-high in steals with two.
 
Upcoming Game                             
 
Peru State will be on the road in Bellevue, Neb., for the Bellevue Classic. On Friday, Nov. 5, the Bobcats will play Northwestern College at 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 6, Peru State will face off against Bellevue University with the tip shortly after 7 p.m.