PERU, Neb.—The Peru State men’s basketball team set the record for made three-pointers in a game Saturday evening with 18. The previous high was 17 by the 2019-2020 team against Evangel. The Bobcats trounced Avila 110-61.

The Bobcats were nine off the record for total points as that still belongs to the 1965 team who scored 119 points against Tarkio.

Peru State improves to 2-1 overall on the year while Avila falls to 1-1.

The Bobcats started the game on a 16-2 run as they could not miss to start the game. Contributing to the run were three pointers by SJ Allison Jr. (Dallas), Donzell Johnson (Bloomington, Ill.) and Savyon Traylor (Atlanta, Ga.). There were also field goals by Allison and Ajantae Hogan (Lincoln).

The Eagles would get within 11, with a little over 12 minutes to play in the first half as they were down 21-10. Avila would then cut the deficit down to ten a couple times but then Johnson hit a three to make the score 28-15.

The three by Johnson sparked another big run for the Bobcats as they went on a 17-4 as they were leading 42-19. Johnson could not miss in the first half during the run as he hit three threes while he was 6-of-8 from deep in the first half and 7-of-9 from the field.

The Eagles would only score eight more points in the first half, as the rout was on as the Bobcats went on a 18-8 run to close out the half leading 60-27. Peru State came out of the break still on fire with an 11-3 run finished off by a three by Johnson as the Bobcats now led 71-30.

Peru State did not let up as they compiled run after run, a quick 10-5 run had the Bobcat lead out to 81-35. Peru State had its largest lead of the game with a little over seven minutes left as they were up by 55, 93-38.

It took over the next four minutes for the Bobcats to get over the century mark as Ty Griggs
(Omaha) laid it in to make the score 101-49 with 3:14 left to play.

The Bobcats ended up scoring a whopping 110 points as they secured the 49-point victory. Peru State was 40-of-61 from the field shooting 65.6%, the hit the record setting 18 threes on 33 attempts shooting 54.5%. They were 12-of-18 from the line shooting 66.7%.

Avila shot 17-of-49 from the field shooting 34.7%, they shot 7-of-25 from deep good for 28% and shot 20-of-26 from the charity stripe shooting 76.9%.

Johnson led the way in points as he had 23 shooting 8-of-10 from the field, while shooting 7-of-9 from deep. Johnson was three off the record from tying most made threes in game.

As that belongs to Lyle Hexom (Omaha) from the 2018-2019 season he had ten against Missouri Valley and Rashad Brackeen (Oakland, Calif.) also had ten against Missouri Valley in the 2016-2017 season.

Traylor finished with 16 points, while Troy Houghton (Omaha) finished with ten and Jibril Harris had a double-double with ten points and ten boards. Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.) led the way in assists with 12.

He was three off the record for single most assists in a game as that belongs to Jeff Smith (twice) and Fredd Ward in the 1979-1980 and 1992-93 seasons, respectively.

Baker also led the way in steals with three.

Peru State is back at home next weekend as they participate in the Heart/KCAC/AMC Classic. They tip-off against Bethany College Friday, November 11, at 7:00 p.m. Then on Saturday, November 12, they face Missouri Baptist. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.