The Baker University men’s basketball team overcame a 12-point margin with 10 minutes left to upend Peru State College 65-61 to move to 9-5 overall and 2-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Thursday in Collins Center.

The Wildcats held the Bobcats to six field goals in the first half, but PSC only trailed by eight at halftime with BU in front 31-23.

The Bobcats’ offense came alive in the second half, however, as Peru State went on a 29-9 run in the first 10 minutes after halftime to go up 52-40.

“In the second half, our guys started getting a little bit tight and we just weren’t fundamentally sound defensively,” head coach Sean Dooley said.

In the final 10 minutes of the game, BU tightened up its defense and outscored PSC 25-9 to outlast the Bobcats.

Baker got key buckets down the stretch, including a 3-pointer from junior Todd Johnston to tie the game at 55-55 with just less than five minutes to play.

“Todd Johnston stepped up and played big tonight,” Dooley said. “I know he’s not happy with the minutes he’s gotten the first semester, but there is no one that works harder in practice. He shows up every day.”

Along with Johnston, senior Ben Steinlage was the Wildcats’ go-to guy late as he led BU with 15 points.

“Our guys did a good job of continuing to look for him,” Dooley said. “Once he got going a little bit, it kind of built his confidence and he was able to get to the line.”

BU will hit the road Saturday to play Culver-Stockton College, which leads the HAAC at 4-0 after an overtime win against Benedictine College Thursday.

“Offensively, (Culver-Stockton) is as good as anyone probably in the country,” Dooley said. “They shoot a ton of 3-pointers and are kind of unorthodox. They don’t really do a lot. They just play and they have a lot of talent.”

Baker and C-SC are set for a 4 p.m. tipoff in Canton, Mo.