(Peru, Neb.) – A Peru State shot near the buzzer at the end of regulation missed which forced the game into overtime against Clarke in Dubuque, Iowa, on Saturday.

In the overtime, the Bobcats took an early lead, but could not hold on as the Pride pulled out an 84-79 win in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) semifinals.

With the win, Clarke improved to 24-8 and will face William Penn (Iowa) Tuesday night for the Heart conference championship. Both teams will be advancing to the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Tournament which will be held in the middle of this month.

With the loss, Peru State's season ends with a 17-15 record.

First Half Action

Clarke scored the first eight points of the contest before Devon Colley (Las Vegas) got on the board with a trey off an assist from Isaac Simpson (Papillion) at the 16:17 point in the first half. Henry Tanksley (Lincoln) would follow with a pair of free throws.

The Pride would maintain the lead until there was 11:53 on the score clock when Nick Brannon (Las Vegas) hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Colley. Simpson would follow with a trey off an assist from Colley to extend the lead to 17-13.

After Clarke regained the lead, O'Nandi Brooks (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Brannon to put the 'Cats back up 19-18. Tanksley followed with a trey and then Noah Vasa (Nebraska City) hit a jumper in the paint off an assist from Brannon. With 6:41 to go in the half, the Bobcats had their largest lead in the contest at that point of six at 24-18.

Later in the first half, with 2:41 to go, Tanksley hit a pair of free throws to put the 'Cats up by eight at 36-28.

At the end of the first half, Peru State had a five-point lead of 40-35.

Second Half Action

Vasa started the second half with a three-pointer and again the Bobcats had their largest lead of the game of eight at 43-35.

Peru State would continue to lead with Clarke cutting into the lead, but not taking over. With 7:41 left in regulation, the Pride had cut it to one at 56-55, but Colley hit a pair of free throws to extend the Bobcat lead to three. Tanksley completed an old-fashioned three-point play and with 6:50 left, Peru State led 61-55.

The Pride would go on a 9-3 run to later tie the game at 64 with 3:09 on the clock. Clarke would take the lead at that point with a bucket only to see Brannon tie the game with a bucket at the 2:04 mark. Brannon would give the 'Cats a one-point lead as he finished off a three-point play.

With 1:16 on the clock, Brooks hit a bucket in the paint on an assist from Colley to extend the lead to three. One minute later, Clarke hit a trey to tie it at 69.

A shot by the 'Cats near the buzzer missed which forced overtime.

Overtime Action

Simpson started the OT with a three-pointer off an assist from Colley. The Pride would eventually tie it at 72 and then took the lead with a bucket.

With 3:13 to go in overtime, Colley tied it at 74. With 2:06 on the clock, Deonte McReynolds (Chicago) hit a pair of free throws to put the 'Cats on top at 76-74.

The Pride would score eight straight points after that to lead 82-76. McReynolds hit a three on an assist from Colley, but that would be as close as the Bobcats would come.

CLARKE GAME BOOK

Team Statistics

Clarke outshot the Bobcats from the floor as they made 27 of 55 field goals for 49.1% which included hitting 12 of 25 from long range for 48%. From the free throw line, the Pride went 18 of 24 for 75%. Peru State was 27 of 70 in field goal attempts for 38.6% and made 11 of 32 from behind the arc for 34.4%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats went 14 of 18 for 77.8%.

The Pride had a slight rebounding edge as they grabbed 35 boards compared to 32 for the 'Cats. Each team dished out 15 assists.

Clarke finished with 19 turnovers while Peru State had 15 miscues. Both teams blocked five shots. The Bobcats grabbed nine steals while the Pride had five.

Peru Player Statistics

Two Bobcats finished in double figures as Tanksley led the way with 26 points and Vasa added 16. Brannon contributed nine while Colley and McReynolds each finished with eight.

Vasa had a double-double as he grabbed ten boards. Brannon added seven with Colley grabbing five.

Colley dished out eight assists with Brannon handing out five.

Vasa blocked four shots with Brooks being credited with one.

Tanksley grabbed three steals with Vasa and Colley each finishing with two.

Season Finished

Seven Bobcat seniors finished their time in a Peru State uniform – Brooks, Colley, McReynolds, Drew Switzer (Casper, Wyo.), Vasa, Brannon, and Julius Sakinis (Klaipeda, Lithuania).

Peru State finished a little higher than the Heart prognosticators predicted at the beginning of the season. The 'Cats finished in a tie for third and actually had the third seed for the post-season tournament.