Point Lookout, MO - After a thriller on Thursday where the Bobcats came away with an 84-83 overtime win against the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma, the Bobcats were set to host Texas Wesleyan University at Keeter Gymnasium.

The contest quickly turned to a defensive battle as both teams struggled to put points on the board. Caleb Faulkner opened the scoring for the Bobcats and Andrew Dalton added the next five Bobcat points. The offensive struggles continued for both teams and with 10:39 remaining in the opening half, the Rams held a 12-7 lead. Jay Baxter connected on a free throw at the 10:10 mark and Andrew Dalton drained a three with 8:04 remaining to cut the deficit to 12-11. The Rams answered with a three and both offenses began to come to life. The two teams began trading baskets with Bryce Bulter adding a bucket and Andrew Dalton finding the bottom of the net with a pair of free throws to cut the gap to 17-15. A Rams three at the 4:33 mark was followed by a Garrett Snyder two, but the Rams scored the next four points in response. A pair of Caleb Faulkner free throws and a Snyder layup would be all the scoring for the Bobcats while the Rams added to their lead. As time expired in the opening frame, the Bobcats found themselves in a 30-22 hole heading to the locker room.

The Rams opened the scoring in the second half and Andrew Dalton connected on a pair of free theows to answer. Trading baskets was the trend in the early going, as the Bobcats struggled to get stops on the defensive end. A pair of Ram free throws and a three forced a Bobcats timeout, trailing 40-26. Caleb Faulkner scored inside to cut the gap, but the Rams quickly answered. A pair of Baxter free throws and a Dalton basket kept the Cats within 10, but the Cats couldn’t seem to slow down the attack of the Rams. A Rams three and a pair of free throws increased the deficit to 49-34, with 13:05 left to play and the Bobcats needed to turn the tide in a hurry. A Garrett Snyder basket and a Kyle Flavin three helped the Bobcats keep pace with the offensive attack of the Rams but a run was needed if the Cats were going to get back into contention. Brady Reynold scored to cut the gap to 55-41 with 8:56 showing on the clock and the Cats were looking to start a run. The Rams continued to attack however, and the Bobcats could only keep pace. A Kyle Flavin bucket was followed by a Brady Reynolds two and the Bobcats trailed 60-45 with 5:14 left to play. Caleb Faulkner, DJ Quarles and Andrew Dalton each connected on a pair of free throws, to cut the gap to 64-52 and the Rams took a timeout with 2:42 showing on the clock. Andrew Dalton followed a Rams basket with one of his own, but the Bobcats were running out of time. That would be all the scoring for the Cats and Texas Wesleyan closed out the 69-53 win.

Andrew Dalton led the Bobcat offense with 20 points. Caleb Faulkner added eight, Garrett Snyder chipped in seven, Kyle Flavin and Jay Baxter each added five, and Brady Reynolds tacked on four. DJ Quarles and Bryce Butler each added two points to the cause.

The Bobcats return to action at home next Thursday against Langton University in a 6:45 pm start.