WAXAHACHIE, Texas — Andrew Dalton capped a historic afternoon with a record-setting 50 points, and College of the Ozarks survived a wild finish to outlast Nelson (Texas) 109-105 in double overtime on Saturday in Waxahachie, Texas.

Dalton broke the Bobcats’ single-game scoring record and eclipsed the 1,000-point career plateau in the process, going 14-of-21 from the field, 10-of-14 from 3-point range and 12-of-14 at the free-throw line while adding seven rebounds. His performance anchored a College of the Ozarks offense that shot 45.1% from the floor and 42.1% from beyond the arc in the high-scoring nonconference matchup.

The decisive stretch came in the second overtime. With the teams locked in another one-possession game, Jaiden Wilson drilled a 3-pointer to push College of the Ozarks ahead 98-95, a lead the Bobcats never surrendered. Nelson continued to pressure late, but DJ Quarles sealed the outcome at the line, knocking down two free throws with one second remaining to extend the margin to 109-105 and close out the double-overtime win.

The Bobcats controlled the opening period behind Dalton’s hot shooting, building a 41-28 lead after his 3-pointer late in the first half. Nelson answered with a huge second half erupting for 56 points to force overtime, despite College of the Ozarks’ 43-point frame. 

Nelson leaned on offensive rebounding and volume shooting to rally after halftime. The hosts grabbed 18 offensive boards and finished with a 47-40 edge on the glass, using multiple second-chance opportunities to chip away as regulation and the first overtime tightened. Nelson’s defense also forced 20 College of the Ozarks turnovers and came up with 13 steals, helping offset the Bobcats’ efficiency and free-throw edge.

In the first overtime, College of the Ozarks again turned to defense and foul shooting at a critical moment. Quarles converted a pair of free throws following a key defensive sequence to give the Bobcats an 89-86 lead in the extra period, though Nelson answered to force a second overtime. From there, Wilson and Dalton carried the offense, and College of the Ozarks ultimately rode its 29-of-31 performance at the line (93.5%) to keep Nelson at arm’s length in the closing seconds.

Dalton’s duel with Nelson standout Micah Clark defined much of the afternoon. Clark matched Dalton with 50 points of his own on 18-of-38 shooting, including 8-of-20 from 3-point range, and pulled down 10 rebounds. Nelson also received 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks from Jesse Iweze. Wilson finished with 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting for College of the Ozarks, adding five rebounds in 19 efficient minutes off the bench.

With the win, College of the Ozarks emerged from the double-overtime test with a signature road result, powered by Dalton’s milestone performance and timely plays from Wilson and Quarles in both overtime periods. The Bobcats will look to build on the record-setting offensive outing as they move deeper into the heart of their schedule.