(Peru, Neb.)—The Peru State men's basketball team defeated Missouri Valley College 94-85 on Saturday evening. The Bobcats improve to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play while the Vikings are now 2-6 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
 
Below is a breakdown of how the game went…
 
It was a low scoring affair for the first three minutes of play as it was a stalemate at 2-2. After the Vikings went up 5-4, the Bobcats went on a 6-0 run to take a 10-5 lead capped off by a layup from Jibril Harris (Chicago).
 
The Bobcats would lead by as much as seven 15-8 after a layup by Sayvon Traylor (Atlanta, Ga.) with around 12 minutes to go in the first half. The Vikings then went on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 15 all.
 
Harris then hit a three to go back up by three 18-15. The teams would trade threes as the Bobcats led 21-18 after Skyler Wilson (Omaha) hit a three with just under eight minutes to go.
 
Peru State went up by as much as six after a layup by Lorenzo Anderson (Lithonia, Ga.) to go up 25-19. Missouri Valley cut the lead to one twice as they were down 28-27 with four minutes to play.
 
The Vikings went on a 13-6 run to close out the first half but Matthew Wingett (Winnebago) hit a shot from beyond the arc as Peru State trailed 37-34 at the break.
 
Peru State took a lead early in the second half 38-37 after Troy Houghton (Omaha) slammed home a dunk. The Vikings and the Bobcats then traded baskets for around the next five minutes.
 
The Bobcats would finally get out to a five-point lead after Harris made a shot from beyond the arc as Peru State led 57-52 with around 13 minutes to go. The Vikings then cut the lead to down to two trailing 59-57 but then Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.) hit a huge three to put the Bobcats back up five.
 
Missouri Valley would cut the lead down to three twice more as they trailed 64-61, the Bobcats then went on a 9-0 run to take a 73-61 lead with around eight minutes to play. Missouri Valley briefly cut the lead to ten but then Baker hit a three as the Bobcats went back up by 13.
 
The Vikings cut the deficit down to ten twice with around four minutes to play. Traylor then hit a three as Peru State went up 81-68 with just under four minutes to play. Peru State would get the lead out to as many as 14 after a three-point shot from Harris leading 84-70.
 
The Vikings then went on a 10-2 run cutting the deficit to two possessions with under a minute to play. Missouri Valley cut it to 88-83 with 30 seconds but the Bobcats were able to knock down their free throws and come away with the 94-85 victory.
 
Peru State shot 35-of-61 from the field shooting 57.4%, 14-of-25 shooting 56% from deep and 10-of-17 from the line shooting 58.8%.
 
Missouri Valley shot 30-of-59 from the field shooting 50.9%, 10-of-22 from three shooting 45.5% and 15-of-23 from the foul line shooting 65.2%.
 
Points in the paint were even at 36 each. Same with bench points with 27 each. Peru State had 17 points off turnovers compared to Missouri Valley's five.
 
Harris led the way in scoring with 25 points, Wilson had 17, Anderson had 15, Traylor had 13 and Baker had ten he also had ten assists for a double-double. Harris led the way in rebounding with eight.
 
Peru State hits the road to take on Mount Mercy Wednesday, December 7. Tip-Off is set for 7:30 p.m.