McPHERSON, Kan. — Big nights from Seth Soden and Jay Baxter highlighted a strong second-half surge for College of the Ozarks, but the Bobcats could not overcome a slow start Saturday, falling 87–79 on the road to Central Christian College.

Central Christian seized control early, building a large first-half cushion and outscoring the Bobcats 43–27 over the opening 20 minutes. College of the Ozarks responded after halftime, erupting for 52 second-half points and trimming the deficit to six in the closing seconds, but the early hole proved too large to overcome.

Baxter fueled the comeback effort with a dominant double-double performance, finishing with 31 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Bobcats. He shot 9-for-21 from the field and excelled at the free-throw line, converting 13 of 15 attempts while adding three assists and three blocks. Soden also delivered a major offensive boost, turning in one of his strongest performances of the season to help spark the second-half rally. Andrew Dalton added 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists, including a late 3-pointer that helped close the gap in the final minutes.

The Bobcats found themselves chasing from the outset as Central Christian opened with hot perimeter shooting and sustained scoring runs throughout the first half. The hosts continued to answer Ozarks rallies with timely shot-making and free throws, maintaining separation whenever the Bobcats threatened to fully close the gap.

College of the Ozarks showed improved offensive rhythm and rebounding after halftime. Key buckets from multiple contributors helped the Bobcats trade scores during an up-tempo second half, while Baxter consistently attacked the paint and created opportunities at the free-throw line as Ozarks mounted its late push.

Despite the setback, College of the Ozarks showed encouraging signs. The Bobcats went 25-for-30 at the free-throw line, battled nearly even on the glass (39–40), including 16 offensive rebounds, and protected the ball well with just seven turnovers. The strong second-half push — highlighted by standout performances from Jay Baxter and Seth Soden — provides momentum and confidence as the Bobcats prepare and focus on their final two regular-season games Thursday and Saturday.