(Peru, Neb.)—The Peru State men's basketball team defeated Clarke 92-63 on senior night. The Bobcats improve to 21-6 overall and 16-5 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play while the Pride fall to 11-16 overall and 6-15 in conference play.
 
Below is a breakdown of how the game went…
 
It was all Peru early as they led 12-2 five minutes into the game. Contributing the buckets were Jibril Harris (Chicago), Lorenzo Anderson (Lithonia, Ga.), and threes by Harris and SJ Allison Jr. (Dallas).
 
The Pride were able to get the score back within single digits as they trailed 15-8 with 14 minutes to play in the first half. Peru State then went on a 9-2 run to make the score 24-10 after Sayvon Traylor (Atlanta) hit a layup.
 
The Pride were able to cut the lead back down to eight trailing 27-19 with under eight minutes to play in the first half. The Bobcats then exploded going on a 17-2 run to take a 44-21 lead with under three minutes to play in the half.
 
Contributing the run were baskets by David Wingett Jr. (Winnebago), Troy Houghton (Omaha), a free throw by Houghton, Anderson, and threes by Anderson and Harris.
 
Peru State would end the half on a 25-6 run taking a 52-25 lead going into the locker room.
 
The Pride scored the first six points of the second half but still trailed by 20 down 52-32 in the second. Clarke got the score down to 17 points trailing 56-39 with 14 minutes to play in the game but then Anderson hit a three as the Bobcat lead went right back up to 20 points.
 
A little later in the second half Peru State went on a 13-2 run to take a 74-43 lead after Allison Jr. hit a shot from deep. Clarke would cut the lead down to 25 trailing 76-51 but the Bobcats had their number all night.
 
The Bobcat lead had ballooned up to a whopping 32 points with around two and a half minutes to play after Houghton made a layup to make the score 92-60.
 
Peru State won the game 92-63.
 
Peru State shot 36-of-72 from the field shooting 50%, 15-of-31 from beyond the arc shooting 48.4% three away from tying the record the set against Avila earlier this season. The Bobcats were 5-of-6 from the line shooting 83.3%.
 
Clarke shot 25-of-67 from the field shooting 37.3%, 8-of-28 from deep shooting 28.6% and 5-of-7 from the line shooting 71.4%.
 
Peru State outscored Clarke 34-24 in the paint, 20-16 in points off turnovers and 35-7 off the bench.
 
Anderson, Harris, Houghton and Traylor all combined for a team high 15 points. Houghton also had a double-double with 14 rebounds. Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.) led the way in assists with five.
 
The Peru State athletic department would like to thank seniors SJ Allison Jr., Lorenzo Anderson, Ta'Vion Anderson, Man Man Baker, Jibril Harris and Troy Houghton for their efforts over the past few seasons.
 
The Bobcats have qualified for the Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament starting on Thursday, February 23, opponent, time and place will be announced at a later date.
 
Peru State has one final regular season road test as they face Baker on Saturday, February 18. Tip-Off is set for 5:00 p.m.