Springfield, MO – After a big win on Homecoming Day, the Bobcats traveled north to Evangel University for their first road game of the season. Evangel, coming off an Elite Eight appearance in the NAIA National Championship Tournament a year ago, was looking to get their season started on the right foot. Having only lost one player from that squad, the Bobcats were prepared to have their hands full n Springfield.

Evangel put the first four points on the board to open the contest before Andrew Dalton drained a deep three to get the Cats in the scoring column. After trading baskets, neither team would find the basket over the next two minutes. A Garrett Snyder layup broke the drought, and the Bobcats trailed 7-10. After an exchange of points, with the Bobcats down 12-16, and 10:43 left in the first half, Bryce Butler connected on a pair of free throws to cut into the Evangel lead. The Valor, however, answered with a three and the battle was on. After an Andrew Dalton bucket and a defensive stop, Bryce Butler drained a three to pull the Bobcats even. A 7-0 Valor run would follow before a Kyle Flavin bucket stopped the string. A Garrett Snyder steal led to a Bryce Butler fast break layup, and the Cats were within three. A DJ Quarles layup, and a pair of Bobcat defensive stops that led to buckets, cut the deficit to two and the Bobcats were back in the hunt. After a Valor basket, Andrew Dalton connected on a free throw and with 1:40 left in the half, the Cats trailed 31-35. A Caleb Faulkner three would close out the half, and the Cats trailed 34-35 heading to the locker room.  

Garrett Snyder opened the second half scoring with a rebound and put-back and an Andrew Dalton layup gave the Bobcats a 38-36 lead. Caleb Faulkner hit a three to add to the lead, then followed with a floater for two more. The Valor responded with a bucket before Jay Baxter finished strong on a layup to keep the Cats lead at five. Jay Baxter slammed one home to put an exclamation point on the Cats 15-5 run, forcing a Valor timeout. The Valor regrouped and scored six unanswered points to cut the lead to 49-46 and the Bobcats took a timeout to talk things over. Evangel scored at the 12:34 mark, and again at the 10:57 mark to take the lead, 50-49. Jay Baxter provided the answer, and the back-and-forth action intensified. A Valor three was answered by a Garrett Snyder basket before a 7-0 Valor run forced a Bobcat timeout. Trailing 60-53, the Cats were looking to go on a run of their own. A pair of free throws and a three out of the hands of Kyle Flavin cut the deficit to two and the tension continued to build. A Dalton free throw cut the gap, but another Valor bucket forced a Bobcat timeout. With 3:42 remaining, a Caleb Faulkner was followed by a defensive stop, and an Andrew Dalton layup put the Cats within one. Dalton returned the lead to the Bobcats, 69-68, with 2:18 to go. The Valor tied it with 1:22 left in the game and it was clear this one would go down to the wire. Evangel regained the lead and the Bobcats were forced to foul. Evangel connected on their free throws and the Bobcats fell 77-69.

Andrew Dalton led the Bobcats with 21 points, and Garrett Snyder and Caleb Faulkner each added 10. DJ Quarles dished out 10 assists, and Andrew Dalton and Garrett Snyder each pulled down six rebounds.

The Cats will be back on the court on Saturday, November 16 at John Brown University.