Halftime Lead Holds Up for Bobcat in Win over Evangel

(Peru, Neb.) – After trailing most of the first half, the Peru State men's basketball team forged to a seven-point lead after the first 20 minutes. That lead would hold up as the Bobcats claimed their second Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) win over Evangel 88-81 in Springfield, Mo., Saturday afternoon.
 
The 'Cats improved to 3-2 overall on the season and are now 2-1 in Heart play. The Crusaders fell to 3-4 on the year and are now 1-2 in conference play.
 
First Half Action
 
Kendrick Robinson (Chicago) hit a pair of free throws to start the scoring with just 14 seconds off the clock. The Crusaders would then score the next nine points before Nate Townsen Jr. (Richton Park, Ill.) hit a bucket in the paint to make it 9-4 at the 17:40 mark in the first 20 minutes.

Evangel would have their first double-digit lead at 16-6 with 14:24 left in the first half. Peru State would eventually cut the deficit back to five at 20-15 after Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) hit a two-pointer on an assist from Townsen Jr. at the 11:30 point.
 
Peru State would slowly cut away at the lead and eventually tied it at 28-28 on a bucket by Devon Colley (Las Vegas) in the paint with 5:30 left in the half. The teams would trade leads until a three-pointer by Deonte McReynolds (Chicago) off an assist from Townsen Jr. put the Bobcats in the lead for good at 35-33 with 2:40 left in the first 20 minutes.
 
The 'Cats would lead by as many as eight at 43-35 after a Robinson bucket with 1:11 to go. After the Crusaders cut the lead down to five with a trey,  Robinson would hit another bucket, this time on an assist from McReynolds to make the score 45-38 after 20 minutes of action.
 
Second Half Action
 
Evangel score the first points of the second half with Robinson countering with two of his own. A trey would follow by the Crusaders which would actually pull Evangel to the closest they would be the rest of the game.
 
An old-fashioned three-point play by Colley was followed by a Robinson bucket and the Bobcats now led 52-43 at the 18:35 point. Colley would make a pair of free throws and then a bucket and the 'Cats now had a 13-point advantage just two and one-half minutes into the second half. A trey by McReynolds off an assist from Tanksley gave the Bobcats their largest lead to that point of 16 at 59-43 with 16:51 left in the game. 

Peru State would maintain the double-digit advantage for the next ten minutes as the Crusaders chipped away at the deficit. With 6:40 on the clock, Evangel had pulled to within eight at 69-61. A trey by Tanksley put the Bobcats back up by 11 at 72-61 with an assist going to Robinson.
 
The Crusaders would get to within six later with the last time being at 77-71 with just 99 seconds to go in the game. Another old-fashioned three-point play, this time by Townsen Jr., was followed by a bucket by Colley and Peru State was back up by 11 at 82-71 with 62 seconds on the clock.
 
The Bobcats would be outscored 10-6 from that point on, but held on for a big road win.

EVANGEL GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball well from the floor. Peru State made 29 of 59 field goals for 49.2% which included making 7 of 23 from behind the three-point line for 30.4%. The 'Cats connected on 23 of 32 free throws for 71.9%. Evangel actually shot better from the floor than Peru State as they made 29 of 58 field goal tries for 50%. From long range, the Crusaders hit 9 of 28 for 32.1%. The difference in shooting was at the free throw line as Evangel made 14 of 24 for 58.3%.
 
Peru State actually out-rebounded the taller Crusaders by eight as they finished with 37. Both teams dished out 17 assists.
 
The Crusaders finished with three blocks and the 'Cats had one. The Bobcats nabbed one more steal than Evangel as they finished with seven.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Five Bobcats finished in double digits to lead Peru State to the win. Colley finished with a game-high 24 points on 9 of 15 shooting. Tanksley and Townsen Jr. each added 16 points while Robinson added 14. McReynolds came off the bench to add 12 points.

Robinson finished with a double-double as he grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to lead the team. Tanksley added six boards with Colley grabbing five.
 
Robinson and Townsen Jr. each dished out five assists while Colley handed out three.
 
Tanksley was credited with the lone blocked shot by the Bobcats.
 
Townsen Jr. grabbed three steals with Tanksley being credited with two.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will be playing in the Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Dordt in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Nov. 29 and 30. On Friday, the Bobcats will be facing Northwestern (Iowa) at 5 p.m. The Red Raiders are presently 6-2 on the year and are coming off a big home win over Jamestown (N.D.) 103-94 Saturday night.
 
The tourney hosts will be the opponents for the Bobcats on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Defenders are currently 6-3 after winning their last two games – one of which was over Northwestern.
 
The Bobcats will then face a tough week as they will play three Heart foes. They will host MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) on Monday, Dec. 2, and then travel to Baldwin City, Kan., on Thursday to face Baker. Both game will begin at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the 'Cats will host Clarke (Iowa) at 2 p.m.

Fast Start by Evangel Propels Crusaders to win over Peru State

(Peru, Neb.) – A 19-point lead by the home team was enough to hold up during the second half as Evangel defeated Peru State 77-64 in women's basketball action.
 
The Crusaders led 39-20 at halftime and held on for their fourth win of the season. Evangel improved to 4-2 overall and more importantly went to 3-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Peru State fell to 2-4 on the season and 1-2 in conference play.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Evangel hit the first bucket, but Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Bellevue) countered with a trey to put the 'Cats in the lead at 3-2 with 8:38 left in the first quarter. A pair of free throws put the Crusaders back on top 4-3. Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) grabbed an offensive rebound and went back up for the hoop to give the Bobcats the lead – what actually would be the last lead in the game for Peru State at 6:41 in the first stanza.

The Crusaders would score the next 12 points in a row to go up 16-5 before Giovanna Silva (Brazilia, Brazil) would put in a bucket to stop the run. Evangel would eventually lead 20-12 at the end of the first ten minutes.

 
Second Quarter Action
 
A 6-0 run by the Crusaders extended their lead to 14 before Anjanea Simms (St. Louis, Mo.) hit a bucket on an assist from Marsh-Contreras to make it 26-14 with 7:30 left until halftime. Evangel would then extend their lead to 20 at 36-16 before Silva put in a bucket.
 
Evangel would lead 39-20 at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
The Crusaders would start the second half with a trey. Silva would grab an offensive rebound and put it back in to put the 'Cats on the board at the 8:46 mark. A three-pointer by Allison Tichy (Bellevue) cut the deficit to 17 at 42-25.
 
The teams would continue to trade buckets until the end of the quarter when Reagan Kirkwood (Valley Falls, Kan.) would hit a trey on an assist from Brooke Maeda (Honolulu). Evangel would lead 54-37 after 30 minutes of action.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Evangel would outscore the Bobcats 17-6 to start the fourth quarter to lead 71-43 after the first five minutes. 

A bucket by Marsh-Contreras was followed by a trey from Keaundra Washington (Omaha) to cut the score to 71-48 at the 4-minute mark. The Crusaders would still lead by more than 20 at 77-56 before the 'Cats would score the final eight points.
 
Maeda hit a three and then Marsh-Contreras added a bucket off an assist from Maeda. Washington nailed a three-pointer to end the scoring.

EVANGEL GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State actually out-shot the Crusaders from the floor as they made 24 of 64 for 37.5% and connected on 8 of 21 from long range for 38.1%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats made 8 of 12 for 66.7%. Evangel hit 24 of 67 field goals for 35.8% and went 7 of 29 from behind the arc for 24.1%. The biggest difference in the loss came at the free throw line as the Crusaders made 22 of 31 free throws for 71%.
 
The Bobcats also had a slight rebounding edge – 45 to 43. The Crusaders did dish out three more assists as they finished with 18.
 
One of the other big differences in the game was that Peru State committed 22 turnovers while the Crusaders had 12. Evangel blocked seven shots compared to two for the 'Cats. The Crusaders also had nine steals while the Bobcats finished with just two.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures. Cudney led all scorers as she had 15 points. Marsh-Contreras and Silva each finished with 12. Washington was one short of double figures with all of her points coming on three-point shots.
 
Cudney also led all rebounders as she had a game-high 12 boards as she finished with a double-double. Silva added eight rebounds.
 
Maeda dished out five assists while Marsh-Contreras handed out four. Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) was credited with three assists.
 
Washington and Simms each blocked one shot.
 
Cudney and Marsh-Contreras each grabbed one steal.

Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will be off this Thanksgiving week, but will come back to play three games during the first week of December. All three will be Heart conference action.
 
On Monday, Dec. 2, the 'Cats will host MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) at 5:30 p.m. The Pioneers are off to a perfect start as they are 3-0 overall and 2-0 in Heart play.
 
Then, on Thursday, Dec. 5, the Bobcats will travel to Baldwin City, Kan., to face Baker at 5:30 p.m. The Wildcats are 4-2 on the year, but have lost two in a row to fall to 1-2 in conference action.
 
Clarke (Iowa) will be the opponent on Saturday, Dec. 7, at noon. The Pride are also off to a good start as they are 6-1 overall and are 2-1 in the Heart.
 
On Dec. 7, there will be a toy drive for area agencies. Any new toy brought to the game will allow an individual free admission to the game. At halftime of both contests, the Fantastic Flyers from Glenwood, Iowa, will perform.