The Raven Basketball team closes out Heart play for the first semester on Saturday as they Peru State College in a battle of 2-0 teams in conference play on Dugan Jones Court inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium.
Benedictine (7-3, 2-0 Heart) has wins over No. 19 MNU and Avila University in Heart play while Peru State (6-4, 2-0 Heart) has wins over Missouri Valley College and No. 3 William Penn University.
The Match Up: (RV) Benedictine (7-3, 2-0 Heart) vs. Peru State (6-4, 2-0 Heart) | 4 p.m. | Dugan Jones Court - Ralph Nolan Gymnasium
Video: BRSNtv - portal.stretchinternet.com/ben
Radio: (Courtesy of KAIR 93.7 FM) - http://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KAIR
Live Stats: (Courtesy of Dakstats) - http://bit.ly/2zCnSnI
FULL GAME NOTES
TIP OFF: Benedictine enters play today going for their third straight as they look to remain undefeated in Heart play headed into the holiday break. ... The Ravens have a 9-3 series lead over the Bobcats since the Bobcats joined the Hear for the 2011-12 school year. Benedictine is going for their fourth straight win over Peru State with the Bobcats last win coming in Peru, Neb., back on Jan. 27, 2016.
ABOUT BENEDICTINE: Benedictine is averaging 83.5 ppg in their two Heart games so far with an average margin of 17.6. That's a near five-point improvement over their season average while their margin of victory has increased by 7.3 over their season average. ... Four Ravens have led the team in scoring this season with Kevin Metoyer lead the way four times. He is averaging 20.5 ppg so far in Heart play while shooting over 50 percent from the floor.
ABOUT PERU STATE: The Bobcats have the early-season favorite for upset of the Heart schedule. Peru State knocked off No. 3 William Penn University last Saturday, 100-91 in Peru. ... The 191 total points is the most in a game between two Heart opponents this season and ranks fourth for Heart teams against fellow NAIA member schools this season. ... The Bobcats are led by first-year head coach Bob Ludwig who took the program over in July. He spent last season at Central Wyoming College.
TWEET THIS (Notes on today's match up in less than 280 characters): Peru State's Quantice Hunter is the leading scorer in the Heart of America and is 3rd in #NAIADIMBB in scoring averaging 24.8 PPG. ...The Ravens have won 9 of the last 12 against the Bobcats. Of the 12 games, 8 of them have been decided by 7 points or less. ... The Ravens currently rank 14th in #NAIADIMBB in assists averaging 18.8 per game. Kevin Metoyer is averaging 5 per game, which is second in the Heart. ... Peru State is last in the Heart in points allowed per game giving up 87.8 per contest, while the Ravens are 3rd in the Heart allowing just 68.7 ppg. ... Benedictine's Reshardd Harris is 3rd in the Heart in FG% shooting 64.6% from the field. He has converted on 51-79 shots and is averaging 15 PPG. ... Led by Hunter, the Bobcats have four players that average over 11 PPG. Hunter 24.8, Westbrook 16.0, Moore Jr, 11.8, and Cass 11.1. ... The Bobcats are second in the Heart and fourth in all of #NAIAD1MBB in free throw percentage shooting 77.4% from the charity stripe. ... Kevin Metoyer was named Heart POTW last week. Metoyer averaged 20.5 ppg, 8 rpg, and 9 apg. The Ravens went 2-0 with wins over MNU and Avila.
UP NEXT: The Ravens travel to the Cactus Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. on Dec. 18-19 to take on Menlo (Calif.) and Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
