(Peru, Neb.)—On Saturday evening the Peru State men's basketball team lost 75-68 to the Central Methodist Eagles in Fayette, MO. The Bobcats fall to 10-13 on the year and 5-8 in the Heart (North), the Eagles improve to 16-8 on the year and 7-6 in the Heart (South).
 
Early in the first half the Bobcats fell behind 10-2 but would quickly come up with a 6-0 run of their own making the score 10-8 off of a three-point bucket from Henry Tanksley (Lincoln). The Bobcats would take their first lead of the game with 8:26 left in the first half from a layup by Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.), making the score 15-14.
 
The Eagles would then go on a 7-0 run stretching their lead out to six midway through the first half. The Bobcats would cut the lead down to three with around five minutes to play in the first. Then the Eagles went on a 10-3 run to close out the half and led 33-23 at the break.
 
About four minutes into the second half the Bobcats would end up trimming the lead down to six points 38-32 off a Troy Houghton (Omaha) jumper. Just a few moments later the Bobcats would cut the lead down to five from a Tanksley (Lincoln), three-pointer making the score 46-41. The Bobcats would trim the lead once more making it a four point game with just over 11 minutes to play.
 
Then the Eagles would go on a quick 5-0 run to extend their lead by 11. The Bobcats would cut the lead to six points from a Houghton (Omaha) jumper with around seven minutes to play in the half. The Bobcats would trim the lead to four once more making the score 64-60 with just above four minutes to play.
 
Every time the Bobcats made the game close the Eagles would punch back never given up their lead. The Eagles went on a 7-0 run to extend the lead back out to 11 points. The Bobcats ran out of time for a comeback and fell to the Eagles 75-68.
 
Here is what head coach Bob Ludwig had to say about tonight's loss.
 
"We played a really poor first half offensively of which it was difficult to recover from," said Ludwig. "They played tough, physical, great team defense."
 
"Credit to Central Methodist for making timely plays down the stretch when we cut it to two possessions," added Ludwig. "(Jonathan) Brown and (Tim) Cameron showed why they are among top guards in the league."
 
The Bobcats had four players in double-figures, leading the way was Tanksley (Lincoln) with 19 points, following him was Baker with 14, Donzell Johnson (Bloomington, Ill.) had 13 and Houghton ended with 12. Jibril Harris (Chicago) nearly had a double-double with eight points and 12 rebounds.
 
The Bobcats shot 28-of-60 from the floor shooting 46.7% and from beyond the arc they were 8-of-23 shooting 34.8%. The 'Cats did not perform well from the charity stripe as they were 4-of-10 from the floor shooting 40%.
 
Peru State will be back in action on Wednesday February 2 on the road at Missouri Valley College (11-12, 3-10 Heart South) tip is set for 7:30 p.m.