Heart Game of the Week Recap: #11 MidAmerica Nazarene vs. Peru State
Presented by Olathe Chamber of Commerce
#11 MidAmerica Nazarene earned a hard-fought 53–44 road victory over Peru State on Wednesday night, improving to 10–1 in Heart conference play. The Pioneers' win came in the featured Heart Game of the Week, as both teams battled closely through three quarters.
Peru State took an early lead, but MNU responded with a strong second quarter, outscoring the Bobcats 20–11 to carry a 28–23 advantage into halftime. The third quarter remained competitive, with the Pioneers holding a 43–37 lead entering the fourth. In the final 10 minutes, MNU's defense dominated, limiting Peru State to just seven points on 2-of-15 shooting to secure the win.
Offensively, MNU shot just 29.3% from the field and 11.5% from three, but the Pioneers' ball control and efficient free-throw shooting (88.9%) proved decisive. The victory marked another key conference milestone for MNU as they continue to position themselves atop the Heart standings.
Peru State remained in the game despite the fourth-quarter struggles, battling to keep the score close. The Bobcats worked hard to create opportunities in transition and the half court, but MNU's second-quarter surge and late defensive lockdown ultimately proved too much to overcome.