(Peru, Neb.)—The Peru State men's basketball team survived a defensive battle against Benedictine Wednesday night winning 58-54. The Bobcats improve to 19-6 overall and 14-5 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play while the Ravens fall to 11-14 overall and 9-10 in conference play.
 
Below is a breakdown of how the game went…
 
It was a slow starting first half for both team as the Bobcats were up 9-7 with around 13 minutes to play after a Donzell Johnson (Bloomington, Ill.) three. Peru State then went on a 7-2 run to take a 16-9 lead with around ten minutes to play.
 
Contributing to the run were baskets by David Wingett Jr. (Winnebago), Sayvon Traylor (Atlanta) and a three by Johnson. The Ravens were able to cut the lead down to two as they trailed 16-14 but offense was hard come by for both teams all night.
 
Peru State then went on an 8-0 run to take a ten-point 24-14 lead with three minutes to play in the first. The Ravens and Bobcats combined for five points in the final three minutes as Peru State took a 26-17 lead heading into the half.
 
Early in the second half the Bobcats extended their lead out to 11 up 32-21 after Jibril Harris (Chicago) drilled a three pointer. Peru State a little later on would still have a comfortable ten-point lead up 37-27 with under 16 minutes to play in the game.
 
Benedictine then got the lead back to within single digits with a three of its own. Peru State then went on a 12-2 run to take 49-32 lead with 13 minutes to go in the second half.
 
Contributing to the run were three threes by Traylor and a three by Anderson. The Ravens were able to cut the lead back down to ten a few times. The latest with around eight minutes to play as they were trailing 51-41.
 
Anderson then hit a huge three to go back up 13 with eight minutes left. The Ravens then went on a 13-2 run to make it a one possession game with under a minute to play trailing 56-54.
 
The Ravens had the ball with thirteen seconds but the Bobcat defense bowed up as Traylor stole the ball and knocked down two clutch free throws with two seconds remaining to hang on for the four-point 58-54 win.
 
Peru State shot 19-of-51 from the field shooting 37.3%, 11-of-29 from deep shooting 37.9% and 9-of-15 from the charity stripe shooting 60%.
 
Benedictine shot 20-of-59 from the field shooting 33.9%, 6-of-21 from three shooting 28.6% and 8-of-10 from the line shooting 80%.
 
Benedictine outscored Peru State 28-16 in the paint, Peru State and Benedictine were about even in points off turnovers with the Bobcats having nine and the Ravens having eight. Peru State outscored Benedictine 24-4 off the bench.
 
Traylor led the way in points with 18, Troy Houghton (Omaha) finished with ten, Anderson and Harris both finished with nine. Harris led the way in rebounds with 12. Houghton finished with a team high three assists.
 
Peru State hits the road to face Missouri Valley College on Saturday, February 11, tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.