Point Lookout, MO - College of the Ozarks came up just short in a hard-fought contest Thursday night, falling 71-66 to Langston University in a tight battle at Keeter Gymnasium.

The Bobcats carried a 36-34 lead into halftime and shot an efficient 50 percent from the field, but Langston’s defensive pressure and clutch shooting late proved decisive. College of the Ozarks trailed 66-59 in the final minutes before Andrew Dalton knocked down a three-pointer inside the last minute to cut the deficit to three. Langston responded by converting critical free throws in the closing seconds to secure the win.

Garrett Snyder led all scorers with 20 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line, while adding four rebounds across 39 minutes. Dalton added 14 points and connected on three shots from beyond the arc, including a buzzer-beating three at the end of the first half that sent the Bobcats into the locker room with momentum. Jay Baxter delivered a strong performance inside, recording a double-double with 12 points and a team-best 11 rebounds while going 4-of-5 at the line.

Offensively, the Bobcats were solid, finishing 21-of-42 from the field (50.0 percent), 5-of-13 from three-point range (38.5 percent), and 19-of-27 at the free-throw line (70.4 percent). Turnovers ultimately made the difference, however, as College of the Ozarks committed 18 miscues against a Langston defense that generated 13 steals while turning the ball over just nine times. The Bobcats were also edged on the boards, 33-29, despite Baxter’s strong rebounding effort.

College of the Ozarks answered early after Langston opened the game with a three-pointer, as Dalton quickly matched it with one of his own to tie the game at 5-5 and set the tone for a competitive first half. The teams traded momentum throughout the opening 20 minutes before Dalton’s buzzer-beating three gave the Bobcats their two-point halftime advantage.

Langston slowly seized control in the second half behind strong guard play, but the Bobcats continued to push back. Snyder repeatedly got to the free-throw line to keep the game close, while Baxter anchored the paint and helped limit second-chance opportunities. Even after Langston built a multi-possession lead late, Dalton’s three-pointer and steady free-throw shooting kept the outcome uncertain until the final moments.

With the 71-66 result, the Bobcats will look to build on their offensive efficiency and strong individual performances while placing added emphasis on ball security against pressure defenses. In front of a strong hometown crowd, the team proved it can compete with high-level opponents and will aim to translate that competitiveness into wins down the stretch.

The Bobcats now turn their focus to finishing strong in the final weeks of the regular season. They hit the road Saturday to face Central Christian College in McPherson, before returning home next Thursday evening to take on Oklahoma City University. The regular season will wrap up next Saturday at home against Southwestern Christian University, as the Bobcats look to carry momentum into postseason play.