Point Lookout, MO - College of the Ozarks leaned on a career-type performance from Garrett Snyder to carry a halftime lead, but a second-half surge by Oklahoma City proved decisive in an 81-72 setback Thursday night at Keeter Gymnasium.

The Bobcats led 43-40 at the break and were deadlocked at 51-51 midway through the second half before Oklahoma City seized control with a pivotal run fueled by timely perimeter shooting and dominance on the glass. The visitors outscored College of the Ozarks 41-29 after halftime, using their size and balanced scoring to create separation. Brian Alexander’s two free throws with 15 seconds remaining stretched the margin to nine and sealed the outcome.

Snyder set the tone early, catching fire in the opening half and forcing Oklahoma City to adjust defensively. His 3-pointer at the 17:10 mark gave the Bobcats an 8-5 advantage and sparked an efficient offensive start. College of the Ozarks continued to answer each Oklahoma City push, and a late layup by Brady Reynolds in the final minute sent the Bobcats into the locker room with a 43-40 edge.

Momentum shifted after intermission as Oklahoma City increased its defensive pressure and began to control the boards. After trading baskets early in the half, a powerful dunk by Alphonse Muteba tied the game at 51-51 with 15:30 to play, igniting the visitors’ turnaround. Jackson Hopps later buried a 3-pointer with 8:54 remaining to extend the lead to 66-62, capping a key stretch that forced the Bobcats to chase down the stretch.

College of the Ozarks continued to battle behind Snyder, who finished with a game-high 37 points on an efficient 12-of-17 shooting from the field. The guard was a perfect 5-of-5 from 3-point range and 8-of-8 at the free-throw line, adding four rebounds in 36 minutes. As a team, the Bobcats shot 44.6 percent (25-of-56) from the floor, 35 percent (7-of-20) from beyond the arc and a flawless 15-of-15 at the line. However, 12 turnovers and a 32-26 rebounding deficit limited their ability to close the gap late.

Oklahoma City countered with balance and interior strength, shooting 49.3 percent (33-of-67) and holding a 12-7 edge in offensive rebounds to generate second-chance opportunities. Jonas Carlisle led the visitors with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Alexander added 17 points and two assists, including the late free throws that sealed the win. Muteba controlled the paint with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, a game-high 17 rebounds, four steals and a block, helping Oklahoma City convert defense into transition opportunities in the second half.

Despite the loss, the Bobcats showcased high-level shot-making and poise for much of the night, particularly during their strong first-half surge. College of the Ozarks will look to build on that offensive efficiency while tightening up rebounding and ball security as the season continues.