Point Lookout, MO – The Bobcats returned to the K after a road trip to Texas and Oklahoma to host the Stars of Oklahoma City University. In their previous contest, the Cats beat the Stars by a score of 87-83.
Jay Baxter drew a foul and connected on a pair of free throws to start the Cats’ offense. The Stars responded with five quick points before and Andrew Dalton three tied the game 5-5, at the 18:00 mark. A scoring drought for the Bobcats ensued and the Stars built a 14-5 lead before Kyle Flavin broke through to score inside. Trailing 14-7, Jay Baxter nailed a mid-range jumper, and Garrett Snyder hit a jump shot to offset a Stars bucket and cut the gap to 11-16. After a Stars layup, Jaiden Wilson connected on a free throw and Snyder made a layup, but the Cats still trailed 14-22. After six straight points from the Stars, Andrew Dalton hit a three and a layup as the shot clock was winding down. A Kyle Flavin offensive rebound and put back cut the deficit to 21-31, with 8:00 remaining. Brady Reynolds and Caleb Faulkner teamed up for a pair of buckets to cut the gap to six, but the Stars quickly answered. Bryce Butler jumped into the scoring column with a drive to the basket and followed with another layup at the rim. The Stars continued to answer the Bobcat challenges but, a Caleb Faulkner, and an Andrew Dalton jumper cut the gap to 34-41 at the intermission.
Andrew Dalton scored off an offensive rebound to open the Cats’ second half scoring, but a scoreless two minutes followed. Trailing 36-47, the Cats took a timeout to regroup. A 6-0 run from the Stars greeted the cats out of the huddle and another quick Bobcat timeout was needed. An Andrew Dalton three-point play, and another basket broke the string, but the Bobcats were down 41-57 with 12:50 showing on the clock. Faulkner drove the lane for a layup, and Dalton added one from deep to build some momentum. The Stars squelched the Bobcat charge with a 5-0 run of their own and built their lead to 62-46. DJ Quarles scored inside, and the Stars took a timeout with 10:13 remaining. The Cats could not seem to make anything happen offensively, as they did not score again until DJ Quarles nailed a three at the 7:47 mark. Garrett Snyder connected on a pair of free throws, but the Cats still trailed by 16 with 7:00 remaining. Jaiden Wilson sank a free throw, and Jay Baxter drained a three, but the Cats couldn’t put together a scoring run. With three minutes remaining, Jaiden Wilson drew a foul on a fastbreak layup and made both free throws, but the Cats still trailed 59-73. Bryce Butler drilled a three and followed it up with a layup to cut into the deficit. Jaiden Wilson added a layup, but the clock would wind down with the Cats falling, 66-76.
Andrew Dalton led the offense with 20 points, and Bryce Butler followed with 9. Brady Reynolds pulled down 6 rebounds in the contest.
The Cats return to action at the K on Thursday, January 9 against UNT Dallas.