Bobcats Open 2024 With Big Win

Paragould, AR – The College of the Ozarks Bobcats had not seen game action since December 16, and they were looking to start the new year with a win. Traveling to Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould, AR, the Bobcats were facing a familiar Continental Conference foe.

The Pioneers drained a quick three for the early lead, but a Caleb Faulkner three splashed home to even the score. Jay Baxter, Faulkner, and Garrett Snyder fueled a 14-0 run, and the Pioneers took a timeout, trailing 14-3. The Pioneers responded with a 7-0 run of their own before a Faulkner layup broke the Bobcat silence. The Pioneers answered with a basket and Jay Baxter provided the Bobcat response. Andrew Dalton made his debut after joining the team to start the second semester, and the Drury University transfer drained a three to open his Bobcat career. Snyder, Baxter and Dalton carried the load over the next several minutes and Kyle Flavin sank a pair of free throws to give the Bobcats a 30-19 lead with 5:32 remaining in the half. Flavin followed with a three and Brady Reynolds drained a pair from the charity stripe to help the Bobcats add to their lead. A pair of Faulkner layups and a pair of free throws were combined with a Snyder jumper to bump the lead to 44-31, with less than a minute to play in the half. Dalton splashed home another three to end the half and the Bobcats took a 47-31 advantage to the intermission.

The Pioneers opened the second half with a 5-0 run before a Snyder layup and a Faulkner three provided the Bobcat response. The Pioneers battled to stay close, but the Bobcats were determined to pull away. A 5:10 scoring drought for the Bobcats, however, put the pressure on the defense to hold the lead. The defense stepped up to the challenge and multiple stops answered the call. An Andrew Dalton layup at the 13:03 mark ended the drought and the Bobcat defense had preserved the 54-41 lead. Brady Reynolds added to the advantage with a layup and Dalton, Snyder, and Baxter maintained the Bobcat lead. Another scoring drought ensued for the Cats and things began to get interesting. The Pioneers chipped away at the lead and with 6:23 remaining, had cut the gap to single digits. A Faulkner free throw broke the string, but a Seth Soden three was needed to get the offense going again. Kyle Flavin drained back-to-back threes and a traditional three-point play by Andrew Dalton provided the needed cushion. With 2:53 remaining, the Bobcats had climbed to a 77-60 advantage. Dalton iced the win with a pair of free throws and the Bobcats took the contest, 80-64.

The Bobcats shot 50% from beyond the arc and newcomer Andrew Dalton racked up 21 points in the win. Caleb Faulkner turned in another solid performance with 18 points, Garrett Snyder poured in 17 points, and Kyle Flavin contributed double figures with 11. Jay Baxter added six, Brady Reynolds chipped in four, and Seth Soden added three in the win.

The Bobcats return to action on January 10 in the Florida College Classic.