College of the Ozarks Basketball Gets Underway

The College of the Ozarks Basketball season is underway.

The Lady Bobcats started while the Bobcats continued their season Tuesday with a doubleheader split at Evangel, the women winning 80-64 while men lost for the first time this season, dropping a 77-69 to the Valor. 

Recaps of both games are below:

C of O Women 
The Lady Cats traveled to AG Financial Arena to open their season against the Valor of Evangel University Tuesday night. Dating back to 2014, the Lady Cats hoped to add to their six-game winning streak against the opponents. 

The Lady Cats and the Valor exchanged points in the early going of the opening frame, with points coming from Blythe Benefield, Logan Jones, and Susie Moran. After two successful free throws from Logan Jones, the Lady Cats led 10-6 with 5:21 left in the quarter. A Valor three-pointer and layup would eliminate the Lady Cat lead. The teams stayed close through the first quarter, with a three-pointer from Abbey Linville and a layup from Blythe Benefield giving the Lady Cats a five-point advantage. With a minute left in the quarter and the Lady Cats up six, the Valor would cut the lead in half and the Lady Cats took a 22-19 lead into the first break. 

Taylor Rush opened the second quarter with a three and Logan Jones added one of her own to put the Lady Cats up seven. After a jumper from Susie Moran and another Taylor Rush three, the Lady Cats held a commanding 33-21 lead. After a back-and-forth two minutes, Taylor Rush nailed another three and Logan Jones recorded a steal and a fastbreak layup to push the lead to 40-25. The Valor called a timeout with 3:37 left in the second quarter, but the Lady Cats poured on four more points, to close out the scoring in the first half. The Lady Cats tool a 44-25 lead into the intermission. 

The Valor scored first in the third quarter, putting up two layups before the Lady Cats would answer with a Blythe Benefield basket. Susie Moran made a layup to push the score to 48-29, while the Valor continued to chip away. With 4:26 left in the frame, Evangel had cut the gap down to single digits. Two Lady Cat treys from Taylor Rush and Logan Jones got the team back on track. Another three from Taylor Rush and a three from Avery Arnold bumped the Lady Cat lead to 61-46 to end the quarter.

The Valor came out gunning to open the final stanza and scored the first six points of the quarter. Blythe Benefield drained a jumper to stop the run and maintain the double-digit lead. After a Valor bucket, Logan Jones hit one from deep to push the lead to 66-54. Abbey Linville dished to Keara Mattingley for a layup to extend the lead to 14, but the Valor responded with six unanswered points, reducing the Lady Cat lead to 68-61 with 3:25 remaining. With time winding down, Blythe Benefield connected on a pair of baskets and a pair of free throws, and a Taylor Rush three pushed the Lady Cat lead to 75-62. Susie Moran would score five straight points to close out the scoring and secure the 80-64 win. 

Four Lady Cats logged double figure scoring with Logan Jones leading the way with Logan Jones 21, Taylor Rush followed with 18, Blythe Benefield added 15, and Susie Moran tacked on 13. Blythe Benefield pulled down 10 rebounds to post a double-double, and Susie Moran followed with 9 rebounds. Abbey Linville, Blythe Benefield, and Susie Moran each dished out 5 assists. 

The Lady Cats will travel to Orange City, Iowa to compete in the Northwestern Classic weekend tournament beginning Friday, November 8. 

C of O Men
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.