PERU - Peru State’s mens basketball team set new program marks this season, including a three-way tie with 25 wins.

The Bobcats, who scored over 100 points in four games, were ranked in the top 10 nationally in the categories of shooting percentage from the field and 3-point range, as well as points per possession.

School records were set for field goals made in a season at 1,058 and most three-pointers in a single game at 18.

Here is the college's press release

 

(Peru, Neb.)—The Peru State men’s basketball team’s historic season came to an end a couple of weeks ago in the second round of the NAIA National Tournament to Jamestown.

 The Bobcats accomplished new heights for this program under new head coach Roman Gentry, interim assistant coach Damion Witty and graduate assistant Brody Anderson this past season.

 The Bobcats finished with a 25-8 overall record this past season. The 25 wins is tied for second most all time along with Newt Kyle’s 1950-1951 teams and John Gibbs’ 1996-1997 team.

Peru State also finished with a 17-5 Heart of America Athletic Conference record, which is also tied for most all time.

The Bobcats had .758 winning pct. on the year and a .773 conference winning percentage.

 They had a 14-4 home mark with a 10-3 road record as the team was “road warriors” all season long. Peru State also finished 1-1 in neutral site games.

Peru State’s record earned them the No. 2 seed in the Heart Conference Tournament as they made a run to the conference championship game. The Bobcats defeated No. 7 seed Graceland 78-56 in the Heart Quarterfinals and defeated No. 3 seed Evangel 76-71 in OT in the Heart Semifinals before falling in the Heart Championship game to No. 1 seed William Penn 95-82.

 The only conference team the Bobcats lost to since the start of 2023 was against the top of conference brass William Penn three times.

The Bobcats earned the Heart’s second auto-bid to the NAIA National Tournament as they finished second in the regular season as the Heart Regular and Conference Tournament Champion were the same (William Penn) Peru State made it to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since the 2018-2019 season where they were defeated by William Carey 95-89.

 The Bobcats earned a six seed in the national tournament winning its first-round matchup against 11 seed Mayville State 101-92 before falling to three seed and host site Jamestown 95-88.

Peru State went over the century mark on four separate occasions this past season. November 5 vs. Avila 110-61, November 18 vs. Ozark Christian College 102-73, January 19 vs. Mount Mercy 101-70 and March 7 vs. 11-seed Mayville State 101-92.

 Peru State played in 33 games this season averaging 85.4 points per game, shooting 51.7% from the field, 38.7% from beyond the arc and 69.6% from the charity stripe. The Bobcats had 34.6 rebounds per game, 14.2 assists per game, 7.1 steals per game and 2.9 blocked shots per game.

Peru State was one of the best offensive teams in the country this past season as the 51.7% from the field was good for fifth in the NAIA, its 38.7% shooting from beyond the arc was good enough for tenth best in the country, its effective field goal percentage was 58.9% good for third best in the NAIA and its true shooting percentage was seventh best at 61.2%.

Peru State also was ninth in the country in points per possession with 1.156.

The Bobcats have the most field goals made in a single season program history with 1,058.

Peru State also broke the single game record for three pointers made in a single game with 18 against Avila back on November 5.

Lorenzo Anderson (Lithonia, Ga.) made the top-30 all time single season point scorer with 518 points. Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.) is now second all time in single season assists with 201 and Sayvon Traylor (Atlanta) is now the single season 3-point percentage leader 47.9% minimum one attempt per game.

Jibril Harris (Chicago), Man Man Baker (Aurora, Colo.), were named First Team AllConference.

Lorenzo Anderson (Lithonia, Ga.) and Troy Houghton (Omaha) were named Second Team All-Conference while Sayvon Traylor (Atlanta) was named All-Conference Honorable Mention. Harris was also named to NAIA All-American Honorable Mention.

Peru State will look to build on its momentum and hopefully make a return trip to the NAIA National Tournament next March.