by (Peru, Neb.)—The Peru State men’s basketball team survived against Clarke 73-70 on Saturday afternoon. The Bobcats improve to 12-5 overall and 7-4 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play while the Pride fall to 8-8 overall and 3-7 in conference play
Below is a breakdown of how the game went…
Clarke started out on a roll as they were up 9-3 early in the first half. The Bobcats then would eventually take a 13-12 after a 10-3 run capped off by a David Wingett Jr. (Winnebago) three. It was the South Dakota State transfer’s first game of the year and his play would prove vital in the Bobcat victory.
The Pride took one more lead before the Bobcats went on a 8-0 run to take a 22-14 lead with under ten minutes to play in the first half. Contributing to the run were baskets by Christian Tidiane (Council Bluffs, Iowa), Wingett Jr and SJ Allison Jr. (Dallas). Wingett Jr. also knocked in a three during the run.
Clarke then went on a quick 7-3 run to cut the Bobcat lead down to three as they now trailed 25-22 with about seven minutes to play in the half. The Pride would cut the lead down to three twice more but could not cut in further as they were trailing 29-26 with under five minutes to play.
Peru State got its lead back out to five after a Sayvon Traylor (Atlanta) jumper. Clarke would cut the lead down to three again 32-29 with under two minutes to play in the half.
Peru State had a six-point 37-31 lead after an Allison Jr. three-point shot but Clarke right before the half once again cut the lead down to three as the Bobcats had a slim 37-34 lead going into the locker room.
The Pride hit a three immediately to open up the second half to tie the game at 37-all. Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.) hit an old fashioned three-point play to go back up 40-37. The Pride tied the game up twice more.
The Bobcats then took a five-point 47-42 lead, after a Wingett Jr. three. Clarke then went on a 7-1 run as they trailed 50-49 with just under 14 minutes to play in the game.
Peru State pushed out its lead back to five 56-51, after Lorenzo Anderson (Lithonia, Ga.) hit a shot from deep. Clarke cut the lead down to three once more with around 12 minutes to play.
The Bobcats then went on a 10-4 run to take an 11-point 66-55 lead with around seven minutes to play in the game. Contributing to the run were three-point baskets by Wingett Jr. and baskets by Anderson and Baker.
Clarke then went on a 13-3 run as they cut the Peru State deficit to one trailing 69-68 with around a minute to play. Anderson then made a huge jump shot to go up three with a minute to go. Clarke cut the lead down to one 71-70 with 40 seconds left.
Clarke had a chance to take the lead after a turnover but the Pride missed three shots at the rim and Jibril Harris (Chicago) came down with a huge rebound.
Harris then made two huge free throws to go up three with seven seconds to play. Clarke had a chance at the end of the game to tie but it went off back iron as the Bobcats hung on for the narrow victory.
Peru State was scorching hot 27-of-51 from the floor shooting 52.9%, 9-of-24 from beyond the arc shooting 37.5% and 10-of-14 from the charity stripe shooting 71.4%.
Clarke shot 25-of-60 from the floor shooting 41.7%, 9-of-24 from deep shooting 37.5% and 11-of-14 from the line shooting 78.6%.
Peru State outscored Clarke 34-28 in the paint, 15-12 in points off turnovers and 17-16 in bench points.
Wingett Jr. led the way in points with 22, Anderson finished with 12 and Baker had 10. Baker also led the team in rebounds with 10 for a double-double. Baker also had a team high six assists.
