(Peru, Neb.)—The Peru State men's basketball team lost in heartbreaking fashion to Baker as they lost 75-73 in overtime on Saturday afternoon. The Bobcats fall to 8-3 overall and 3-2 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play while the Wildcats improve to 9-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play.
 
Below is a breakdown of how the game  went…
 
Peru State jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the first five minutes of the game, contributing to the lead were baskets by Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.), Troy Houghton (Omaha), and Jibril Harris (Chicago).
 
Then Baker trimmed the lead to four trailing 16-12 with around 11 minutes to play in the first half. Sayvon Traylor (Atlanta) hit a big three as the Bobcats went back up by seven 19-12.
 
Baker then trimmed the lead again to four down 21-17 with about six minutes left in the half. Baker would cut the lead down to three but then Lorenzo Anderson (Lithonia, Ga.) hit a big three to take a 26-20 lead.
 
Baker cut the lead to three once more in the half but Skyler Wilson (Omaha) hit a jumper with around one minute left before halftime. Peru State led 33-27 at the break.
 
Peru State would lead 38-32 early in the second half but Baker cut it to four after a layup with 17 minutes to play in the second. Peru State then went on a quick 5-0 run to take a nine-point 43-34 lead highlighted by an and-one from Houghton.
 
Baker cut the lead back down to five but then Peru State went on a 6-2 run to take a 49-40 lead after a layup from Baker. The Wildcats would keep cutting the lead down to five but each time the Bobcats had an answer as they were up 54-47 with just over ten minutes to play.
 
Baker then went on a 11-4 run to tie the game at 58 all with under four minutes to play in the game. Anderson then made two huge plays highlighted by an alley-oop from Baker as Peru State took a four-point 62-58 lead.
 
Houghton a little later late in the second half made a layup to go up by four again. Baker would not go away as they made a jump shot with 20 seconds to tie the game. Baker had his shot blocked but then Anderson stole the ball and had a chance to win the game but it clanked off the rim.
 
Baker got out to a quick five-point 69-64 lead to start overtime, then a 5-0 run by the Bobcats tied the game at 69 all with two minutes to play. Houghton had a huge dunk to tie the game at 71 with a little under two minutes to play.
 
Baker then went up by four after a turnover leading 75-71, Houghton then made a layup with 33 seconds left trailing 75-73. Anderson had a chance to win the game with a three but it was no good as the Bobcats fell 75-73.
 
Peru State shot 30-of-73 from the field shooting 41.1%, 2-of-22 shooting 9.1% from deep and 11-of-17 from the line shooting 64.7%.
 
Baker shot 26-of-72 from the field shooting 36.1%, 4-of-13 shooting 30.8% from beyond the arc and 19-of-23 from the charity stripe shooting 82.6%.
 
Peru State outscored Baker 50-36 in the paint, Baker took advantage of 21 points off turnovers comparatively to Peru State's eight and Baker outscored Peru State 25-8 on the bench.
 
Houghton led the way in points with 23, Anderson had 19 and Harris finished with another double-double 13 points and 11 rebounds. Traylor led the way in rebounds with 13 and Baker led the team in assists with six.
 
Peru State has a quick turn around as they travel to Fort Collins, Colorado, to take on NCAA Division I opponent Colorado State Sunday, December 11. Tip-Off is set for 3:00 p.m.