Point Lookout, MO – After a month-long series of road trips, the College of the Ozarks Bobcats returned home to Keeter Gymnasium looking to build on their latest win streak. Facing the Falcons of Kansas Christian College, the Bobcats were looking to continue their winning ways in front of their home crowd.

The game started off slow for the home team as the basket was elusive and the Falcons took an early lead. Garrett Snyder hit a pair of shots and Caleb Faulkner drained a deep three to keep the Bobcats close, but with five minutes gone in the opening half, the Falcons had pulled out to a 14-7 lead. The ball would not fall for the Bobcats, and they were in danger of dropping further into a hole. Brady Reynolds picked up a rebound and putback to get on the board, but the Falcons answered with a basket to go up 18-9. A Caleb Faulkner three at the 12:04 mark pulled the Bobcats closer, but they were needing stops and an offensive run. A stop on the defensive end translated to a Garret Snyder baseline jumper splashing home and the Falcons took a timeout leading 18-14. A Falcon three out of the huddle bumped the gap to 21-14 before a Kyle Flavin to Garret Snyder fastbreak layup trimmed the lead again. A Faulkner three pulled the Bobcats within two, and they were back in business with 10:00 left to play. A Falcon basket was answered with a deep three by Kyle Flavin and an offensive foul on KCC gave the Bobcats a chance for their first lead. Garrett Snyder drained a trey on the next possession and the Cats led 25-23 with just over six minutes remaining in the half. A pair of Jay Baxter free throws bumped the lead to 27-23 and the Bobcats were amping up the pressure. The teams traded baskets over the next few possessions with Caleb Faulkner and Garrett Snyder putting points on the board to maintain the Bobcat advantage. A Falcon basket with 1:19 remaining was followed by a Flavin assist for a Jay Baxter layup with under a minute to play. The Falcons scored on their next possession and time expired with the Bobcats leading 33-31 at the intermission.

Garrett Snyder and Jay Baxter opened the scoring in the second half and Caleb Faulkner drained a long two after a Falcon basket to closed out a 6-2 run. Another Snyder two put the Cats ahead 41-33 and the Falcons needed a timeout. Brady Reynolds found an open Jay Baxter under the basket for an easy two out of the huddle and the Bobcats owned their largest lead. A pair of Snyder free throws added to the lead and the Bobcat defense was taking care of business on the other end. The Bobcats went to a zone defense to give the Falcons a different look and the basket became elusive for the visitors. Brady Reynolds scored inside, Snyder added a pair of free throws, and the lead grew to 49-36. With 14:58 remaining in the game, the Bobcats were increasing the pressure, and the lead. A Brady Reynolds basket was countered by a Falcon three followed by another basket and Bobcat lead was cut back to 10. Reynolds responded again with back-to-back buckets inside and a 55-41 advantage forced another Falcon timeout. With 13 minutes showing on the clock, the Bobcats were looking to take full control of the game. The Falcons had other plans and a basket out of the huddle cut into the lead. The Bobcats continued to answer the challenges of the Falcons, but the visitors from Kansas were not going away. A Caleb Faulkner three bumped the score to 62-49 and the Bobcats were looking for defensive stops. They got exactly that on the next Falcon possession and Faulkner responded with yet another three. A Falcon basket was unable to slow Faulkner down, and his third consecutive trey boosted the Bobcats to their biggest lead, 68-51. With under six minutes left to play, the Falcons were preparing for a final push. A trio of free throws cut the lead to 68-54 and the Falcons used a timeout to regroup. The Falcons turned on the full court pressure out of the timeout and it was evident the Bobcats would have to take care of the ball to maintain their lead. A pair of turnovers translated into points for the Falcons and the Bobcats needed to respond. Another Falcon basket cut the lead to 68-58 and things began to get interesting. The Bobcats were in serious need of a bucket, and with 3:16 left to play, Garrett Snyder answered the call. The Falcons continued to challenge, and the Bobcats were being put the test. With 2:09 left to play, and the Bobcats holding possession of the ball, and a 70-60 lead, the Falcons took a timeout to discuss late game strategy. Kyle Flavin drained a pair of free throws to add to the lead, but the Falcons quickly scored to reduce the deficit again. With full court Falcon pressure in their face, the Bobcats made it near midcourt and called a timeout. With 1:28 showing on the clock the Bobcats were looking to use as much time as possible. The teams exchanged turnovers, but the Falcons gained the most from the series and cut the lead to 72-64. With 47.2 ticks of the clock remaining, a missed Bobcat free throw gave the Falcons a chance to inch closer. A pair of free throws cut the Bobcats lead to 72-66 and the tension mounted with :34 seconds left to play. The Falcons began the fouling strategy and Garrett Snyder nailed a pair of free throws to extend the lead back to eight. Another set from the charity stripe boosted the lead back to 10, 76-66. A Falcon three cut the lead again before Snyder drained two more from the free throw line. The Falcons hit another three with time running down and Tyler Moore iced the win with a free throw of his own. The Falcons were off the mark with their desperation three quarter court heave, and the Bobcats closed out the game leading 79-72, for their third straight win.

Garrett Snyder led the way with a double-double, pouring in 33 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, and Caleb Faulkner followed with 22 points. Brady Reynolds added double figure scoring with 10 while Jay Baxter contributed eight points, Kyle Flavin tacked on five, and Tyler more chipped in one.

The Bobcats extended their win streak to three and will be back in action next Saturday, December 16 when they host Missouri Baptist in a 3 pm start.