December 2021

On Friday, Dec. 17, Peru State would avenge an early season loss to Morningside College with an 83-63 win on the first day of the Florida Cruzin’ Classic in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Peru State improved to 8-7 on the year. The Mustangs are currently receiving votes in the latest NAIA Men’s Basketball Top 25. The Mustangs fell to 7-4 on the season. 1st half Within the first two minutes of the game the Bobcats would have the early lead in the game as they led 6-0. At the 13:22 mark Peru State would have their first double-digit lead at 13 points after Skyler Wilson (Omaha) made a three off the pass from Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.). With 6:58 remaining, Morningside was able to get the game within single digits at 29-21. But that didn’t last long as the next possession Donzell Johnson (Bloomington, Ill.) made a three off the assist from Isaac Simpson (Papillion) as Peru State led 32-21 with 6:42 on the clock. The ‘Cats didn’t trail the entire first half. After the first 20 minutes of basketball as been played they led by 13 points at 45-32. 2nd Half Peru State would make a three coming out of the halftime break by Jibril Harris (Chicago, Ill.) off the assist from Baker. With one minute and a half gone in the second half the Bobcats led by 15 points at 50-35. The lead would grow for once again to 17 points as Harris made another three off the pass this time from Wilson. At the 13:25 mark, the ‘Cats led by 21 points after Troy Houghton (Omaha) made a layup. With just under ten minutes to go as Peru State led 69-42 after a Baker layup. The Bobcats used the big first half to take control of the game early as they would go on to win their eighth game of the year and seven of their last nine 83-63. Stats Harris led Peru State in scoring with 18 points while Wilson added 16 and Houghton had 15. Baker was the last Bobcat in double figures as he went for 14 points on a perfect 6-6 shooting from the field. Harris added ten rebounds which led the team and would give him a double-double in the game. Houghton added nine rebounds and Baker added seven. Baker led the ‘Cats with six assists while Simpson had three. Wilson and Johnson each had one steal. Baker added two blocks while Harris would have one block in the contest. Upcoming Game The next game will be on Jan. 5, 2022, against Heart of America Athletic Conference foe Benedictine College Ravens.

On Saturday, Dec. 11, the Grand View women’s basketball team – who were receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – won on the road 77-64 against Peru State. With the win the Vikings improved to 9-2 overall and 4-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The ‘Cats fell to 8-6 overall and 3-2 in the Heart. 1st Quarter Peru State went on an 8-0 run to start the game off in the first four minutes of the game before the Vikings stopped the run with a three at the 5:53 mark. The Bobcats led 10-3 after Samantha Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) hit a bucket off the pass from Lycia Peevy (Paris, Ark.). The Vikings would go on a 9-5 run to end the first quarter as Peru State led 15-14 after the first ten minutes of the game. 2nd Quarter The Vikings would take the lead at 16-15 and the lead would change after Peevy made two free throws with the score at 17-16 with 8:08 on the clock. The Vikings would retake the lead at 25-24 with 4:51 on the clock. Julie Miller (Easton, Kan.) made a layup at the 4:27 mark to take the lead right back. The first half would end with the Vikings taking a one-point lead going into break. 3rd Quarter Grand View came out of the break and went on a 6-0 to take a 41-34 lead at the 8:21 mark. The Bobcats would stop the run as Peevy made a layup to get within five points at 41-36 with 7:28 left in the quarter. The Vikings would have their first double-digit lead at 49-38 with 5:47 on the clock. Peru State would tie the game at 49 all after going on an 11-0 run. After 30 minutes of play Grand View led by three points at 53-50 going into the final ten minutes of the game. 4th Quarter The Vikings lead would get within one point after Hailey Ingram (Omaha) made a layup with the score 53-52 with 9:44 on the clock. Grand View extended their lead to six points at 59-53 with 7:25 left in the game. At the 6:44 mark the Vikings lead would just be four points after Jescenia Mosely (Shenandoah, Iowa) hit a bucket. With 2:36 on the Bobcats trailed by ten points at 67-57. The Vikings would out score the Bobcats by ten points in the fourth quarter to win the conference game 77-64. After the game Peru State head coach Ian Holleran said, “I thought we did a lot of things well against a tough opponent in Grand View. The difference was turnovers and offensive rebounds. Even with the loss I’m still proud of where this team is at right know. We still have work to do to get where we want to be, but I’m confident that we will get there.” Stats Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa) led the team with 18 points while going 4-5 from behind the arc. Ingram and Stewart added nine points each. Miller added a team-high nine rebounds while Duncan added six. Ingram had three assists which would lead the team. Ingram added team-high four steals while Mosley added two. Miller added two blocks while Ingram was credited with one block in the game. Upcoming Game This was the last game of 2021. The Bobcats will play in Atchison, Kan., on Jan. 5, against the Benedictine College Ravens (10-2, 3-1). The game with the Ravens, who are receiving votes in the most recent NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.