Point Lookout, MO - Looking to get back in the win column, the Bobcats faced the Trailblazers of University of North Texas – Dallas.

An Andrew Dalton layup opened the scoring, and a Garrett Snyder three put the Cats up 5-1 in the early going. Caleb Faulkner scored to maintain the lead and after a Trailblazers jumper, a DJ Quarles assist to Garrett Snyder provided the answer. Jay Baxter connected on a pair of free throws and made a layup on the next possession to put the Cats up 13-3. After a Trailblazers three, Andrew Dalton scored on a putback, and Garrett Snyder followed with a jumper to put the Cats up 17-6 and force a Trailblazers timeout. Snyder nailed a three out of the huddle and followed with a dunk to extend the Cats’ lead. Layups from Caleb Faulkner and DJ Quarles kept the Cats in front, but the Trailblazers began fighting their way back. A run by the visitors cut the deficit to six points and the Bobcats needed to respond. A Jay Baxter free throw was followed by an Andrew Dalton bucket to answer the call and get the Cats back on track. A pair of Garrett Snyder free throws extend the Cats’ lead to 32-26 and he followed with a mid-range jumper, forcing the Trailblazers to take a timeout with 4:10 left in the half. After a Trailblazers basket, Garrett Snyder nailed a deep three to put the Cats up by eight. The Trailblazers were quick to answer, scoring five straight before Snyder answered again with a pair from the charity stripe. Snyder continued his hot hand with a basket inside the lane and the Cats took a 44-40 lead into the intermission.

Snyder opened the second half scoring with a pair of free throws and continued his hot shooting with a three at the shot clock buzzer on the next possession. After a Trailblazer bucket, Jay Baxter matched it with one of his own and Caleb Faulkner drilled a three to build the lead back to 10. Bryce Butler added a jumper, and a Snyder layup made it 58-45. After a pair of Trailblazer free throws, Andrew Dalton scored inside to keep the Cats’ lead at 13. Bryce Butler, Brady Reynolds, and Jay Baxter teamed up to add points to the board before a Bobcat scoring drought ensued. The Trailblazers were able to capitalize, and the Cats took a timeout with their lead cut to 66-61. A Garrett Snyder and DJ Quarles scoring duo maintained the 71-65 advantage, but the Trailblazers were not ready to concede. A quick UNT bucket trimmed the lead before Jay Baxter answered inside and the Cats took a timeout with 3:10 remaining in the game. The teams traded baskets and the Cats were answering the challenges to hold a 75-69 lead with 1:44 left to play. A Snyder conventional three-point play fired up the Cats and the crowd and the lead was 78-69 with 1:35 left. The last 1:30 would be a free throw battle and the Cats would have to secure the win with clock management and free throws. After a Trailblazers basket, the Cats took a timeout, still up 7 with 47.3 seconds remaining. Snyder connected on a string of free throws down the stretch and Bryce Butler, Jay Baxter, and Andrew Dalton each got their chance from the charity stripe as time ran down. Dalton’s trip to the line provided the final two Bobcat points and the 88-80 win was secured as time ran down.

Garrett Snyder led the team with a career high 43 points. Jay Baxter led with 9 rebounds and provided 12 points for the Cats.

The Cats return to action on Saturday, January 11 at 3:45 PM against Nelson University at home.