(Peru, Neb.) – The home-standing Baker Wildcats men's basketball team came back in the second half to top the Peru State Bobcats 80-70 in Baldwin City, Kan., Thursday night. This was a Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) cross-division match-up.
 
Baker improved to 10-9 on the season and are now 8-7 in the Heart South. The Bobcats dropped their sixth-straight game and fell to 9-12 on the year and 5-11 in the Heart North.
 
Peru State has three Heart conference games remaining and still has the opportunity to gain a spot in the Heart post-season tournament which will begin in two weeks.
 
First Half Action
 
The Wildcats jumped to a 5-0 lead before Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) put the Bobcats on the board with a bucket in the paint at the 17:50 mark. Tyrece Griggs (Omaha) tied the game with a trey off an assist from Tanksley at the 16:00 point in the half.

 
After Baker regained the lead, Peru State would come back and take the lead at 8-7 after Tanksley hit a bucket in the paint with just over 13 minutes to go.
 
The Wildcats would stretch their lead up to 11 at 21-10 at the 8:51 point before Amitai Afenjar (Los Angeles) hit a bucket in the paint to stop the run. DJ Fields (Omaha) followed with a bucket to cut the deficit to seven.
 
Peru State would continue to fight its way back and eventually took the lead at 27-26 after Griggs hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Afenjar with 71 ticks left in the half.
 
After Baker regained the lead with a bucket, Tyler Witt (Falls City) ended the half with a pair of free throws to put the Bobcats up 29-28 at the halftime break.
 
Second Half Action
 
The Bobcats would maintain the lead for the first part of the second half as they led by as many as five at 42-37 after Griggs made a hoop in the paint at the 15:42 mark.
 
Peru State still maintained a one-point advantage at 49-48 with just under 11 minutes left in the contest.
 
A six-point run by the Wildcats vaulted them into the lead and Baker never relinquished it the rest of the contest.
 
BAKER GAME BOOK

Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball well, but Baker had more shot attempts. The Wildcats connected on 32 of 62 field goals for 51.6% including hitting 9 of 20 from downtown for 45%. At the free throw line, Baker made 7 of 10 for 70%. Peru State hit 23 of 49 field goal tries for 46.9% which included making 5 of 17 from long range for 29.4%. From the charity line, the Bobcats went 19 of 28 for 67.9%.
 
Both teams grabbed the same amount of rebounds – 9 offensive and 23 defensive for a total of 32 apiece. The Wildcats did dish out a few more assists as they finished with 16 compared to ten for the Bobcats.
 
Peru State finished with 15 turnovers compared to 11 for the Wildcats. Both teams blocked two shots. The Bobcats had nine steals – two more than the Wildcats.
 
Peru Individual Statistics

 
Griggs led Peru State with 19 points on 6 of 10 shooting. Afenjar finished with 16 points while Tanksley added 13.
 
Isaac Simpson (Papillion) led the team with five rebounds while Griggs and Tanksley each grabbed four.
 
Tanksley dished out three assists with Griggs handing out two.
 
Griggs and Witt were each credited with one block.
 
Griggs nabbed four steals with Afenjar and Armahn Downing (Topeka, Kan.) each having two steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats have three regular season contests remaining and all will be key for Peru State to capturing a post-season berth. Presently, the Bobcats are fifth in the Heart North and are technically two games out of fourth. The challenge is going to be at this point, besides winning, will be whether or not the teams ahead of them are able to play all of their remaining contests – seven in one case and five in another – which have had to be rescheduled due to COVID-19 lately.
 
Peru State can control its own destiny in its next three games. It will start with a contest at Park in Parkville, Mo., on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Pirates, who were receiving votes in the latest coaches' Top 25 poll, are 12-6 on the season and 12-6 in the Heart South after losing an overtime game last night to Grand View (Iowa).
 
The Bobcats will then travel to Dubuque, Iowa, on Feb. 16 to face Mount Mercy at 2 p.m. The Mustangs are one of the teams ahead of Peru State in the standings. Mount Mercy is 8-8 on the season and 6-6 in the Heart North.
 
Peru State's final game of the regular season will be on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 3 p.m. when they host Missouri Valley. The Vikings are 8-12 overall and are 6-9 in the Heart South.
 
Prior to the game on the 20^th, the Bobcats' lone senior, Isaac Simpson, will be recognized.