Box Score (Peru, Neb.) Despite two double-doubles from the Peru State men's basketball team, the Bobcats fell short on Monday night against the Park Pirates 74-67.
 
Park improves to 8-6 and 3-5 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) South division.
 
Peru State falls to 8-11 and 3-6 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North division.
 
It was a back and forth game for most of the evening in the Al Wheeler Activties Center as there were nine lead changes throughout the game. The Bobcats largest lead came early in the first half when Ajante Hogan (Lincoln) made a 3-point shot to put the Bobcats up 12-7 off an assist from Donzell Johnson (Bloomington, Ill.).
 
The first half was high-scoring as both teams shot well from the floor, Park was 16-of-25 from the field shooting at a 64% clip. Peru State shot 16-of-34 from the field at a 47.1% clip. After a back and forth first half the Pirates stretched their lead to six 42-36 off a layup from Rodrigue Marthone with 21 seconds left. Marthone would lead the way for the Pirates with 22 Points and recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds.
 
In the second half the Bobcats cut the lead down to three points before the Pirates went on a 7-0 run to put them in the lead 51-41 with 15:48 left in the second half. The Pirates controlled most of the first part of the second half as their lead would balloon up 60-48 this would be the Pirates largest lead of the game..
 
Later in the second half the Bobcats would go on a run of their own to cut the lead to three points at 60-57 with just under eight minutes to play.
 
Park responded with an 8-0 run itself making the score 68-57 with 5:49 to play. In the latter stages of the second half the Bobcats would cut the lead to five a few times before Park would ultimately come away with the 74-67 win.  
Individual Stats
 
Leading the way for the Bobcats was Jibril Harris (Chicago) who posted a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.) contributed a double-double as well putting in 11 points and 11 rebounds respectively.
 
For the Pirates Marthone had a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Pirates ultimately had three players in double-figures with Cory Reeves and Quez Williamson scoring 16 points respectively.
 
Team Stats
 
Park ended up 25-of-50 from the field for the game scoring at a 50% clip, while Peru shot 28-of-67 making 41.8% percent of their shots. Neither team shot the ball well from three as Park was 5-of-17 good for 29.4% from beyond the arc. Peru was just 4-of-22 from three point land.
 
The Bobcats outscored the Pirates by 18 points in the paint winning that battle 46-28. Peru State also had 14 more bench points then Park 18-4.
 
Next Game
 
Peru State will be back at home on Thursday night to face Mount Mercy at 7:30. Mount Mercy is 13-6 overall and 6-3 in the Heart North.