(Peru, Neb.)—The Peru State men's basketball team dropped to MidAmerica Nazarene 98-90, Saturday evening. The Bobcats fall to 5-2 overall and 0-1 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play, while the Pioneers improve to 6-1 overall 1-0 in conference play.
 
It was a tightly contested affair early as the Bobcats were clinging to a three-point lead after a layup from Jibril Harris (Chicago) as they led 14-11. The Pioneers then went on a 12-2 run to take a 23-16 lead with around 12 minutes to go in the first half.
 
Peru State would then get the lead down to five after Harris hit a jump shot to make the score 25-20. MidAmerica came right back down the floor and hit a three to extend its lead to eight.
 
MidAmerica would keep Peru State at arm's length as they would get the lead up to 11 a few times with just over seven minutes to go leading 35-24.
 
Later in the first half Peru State would cut the lead to seven after a bucket from Lorenzo Anderson (Lithonia, Ga.). The Pioneers then went on a mini 6-2 run to get the lead back to double digits leading 41-29.
 
Donzell Johnson (Bloomington, Ill.) then drained a shot from deep to get the lead back within single digits. Late in the first half Peru State would cut the lead down to six after a three from Matthew Wingett (Winnebago) as the score was now 45-36.
 
The Pioneers would head into the break with a 49-41 lead. Almost immediately out of the break the Bobcats would cut the lead to seven after a Harris three-point basket. Peru State could not cut the lead anymore then the seven-point deficit early in the second half.
 
The Bobcats would cut the Pioneer lead to seven, six times within the first six minutes of the second half. The latest one after a made free throw from Ajantae Hogan (Lincoln) as they trailed 64-57.
 
Halfway through the second half the Bobcats would cut the lead down to seven a few more times. After an Anderson layup they would be trailing 71-64. Then a 12-3 run by MidAmerica had its lead grow to 15 as they were up 82-69.
 
Peru State would cut the lead to nine twice more after a layup and free throws by Harris as the score was now 88-79. MidAmerica then stretched its lead to 13 92-79 with just over two minutes to go.
 
The Bobcats cut the lead to six after an 11-4 run capped off by back-to-back threes by Anderson to make the score 96-90, but it was too little too late as there was only a few ticks left on the clock. MidAmerica Nazarene came away with the 98-90 victory.
 
Peru State was 36-of-69 from the field shooting 52.2%, they shot 8-of-26 shooting 30.8% from beyond the arc and were 10-of-18 from the line shooting 55.6%.

MidAmerica Nazarene was 35-of-63 from the field shooting 55.6%, they were 3-of-9 shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc and 25-of-29 from the line shooting 86.2%.
 
The Pioneers had 60 points in the paint compared to the Bobcats 46. Peru State outscored MidAmerica's bench 43-14 and points off turnovers were relatively even as the Bobcats had 16 and the Pioneers had 19.
 
Harris led the way in points with 25, Anderson finished behind him with 23, Johnson and Houghton finished with nine each. Harris led the way in boards with seven and Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.) finished with a team high six assists.
 
Peru State is back at home Wednesday, November 30, as they welcome Culver-Stockton to town. Tip-Off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.