PERU, Neb. – Peru State College was able to pull away from Benedictine Men's Basketball on Wednesday night as the teams took on each other in their Heart of America Athletic Conference openers.

Leading by two points at the break, the (RV) Bobcats scored 46 points in the second half en route to an 82-66 win over the Ravens.

The two teams played through five ties and six lead changes. Benedictine took its first lead on a pair of free throws from Larry Parker III midway through the first half. They led two more times before halftime, the first time on a 3-pointer from Jack Vander Woude with just over 5 minutes left and then again on a Vander Woude jumper inside the final 10 seconds of the half. Peru State answered to regain the lead on a last-second 3-pointer as the halftime buzzer sounded.

Vander Woude opened the second half with a 5 straight points for the Ravens which allowed them to lead 39-38 inside the first two minutes of the second half. Peru State answered with an 12-0 run to regain the lead and pull ahead of Benedictine.

A 3-pointer from Parker III ended a four-minute scoring drought that cut the Ravens back to single digits, 50-42, but that was all the closer the Ravens would get as the Bobcats lead remained in double figures for the rest of the game.

Vander Woude scored a game-high 23 points for the Ravens hitting 5 3-pointers in 25 minutes of action. Brycen LaRue finished with 14 points as the only other Raven to reach double figures.

The Ravens finished the game shooting 47.3 percent from the floor with 8 3-pointers at 36.4 percent. 

Benedictine remains on the road Nov. 20, traveling to Fayette, Mo., for a 7:30 p.m. game with Central Methodist University.

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