Oklahoma Freedom: 179.25 / Austin Gamblers: 177.25

OKLAHOMA CITY – Competing in front of a hometown crowd for the first time, the Oklahoma Freedom defeated the Austin Gamblers in walk-off fashion courtesy of a 90-point score from Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) during the opening night of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series’ Freedom Fest at Paycom Center. The Freedom have now won five consecutive games and lead the league in 90-point rides with three.

After a scoreless first, the game’s intensity ratcheted up in the second as Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil) readied to ride for the Gamblers, and young gun Casey Roberts (Munford, Alabama) was up for the Freedom. As the first rider to reach the requisite 8, Divino conquered Gladiator’s Hammer (Frontier Rodeo Company) for a critical 88.5 points. Roberts then failed to convert, bucked off by Moon Juice (Shuler Bucking Bulls) in 5.54 seconds, leading the Gamblers to enter the third with an 88.5-point lead.

As the game approached the midway point, the Gamblers earned a re-ride when Little Lightning (Jenkins Cattle Co./Emerson Cattle Co.) hipped himself in his trip with Dakota Louis (Browning, Montana). Righting their momentum, the Freedom earned their first score in the bottom of the frame, inching within a mere 0.25 points of the lead when Chase Outlaw (Hamburg, Arkansas) bested Hell On The Red (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) for 88.25 points.

The scoreboard remained unchanged in the fourth, setting up a high-pressure fifth with Austin still having two attempts left while the Freedom had just one. Riding in just his second event for the Gamblers after being traded by the Carolina Cowboys, Ramon de Lima (Rio Branco, Brazil) delivered in the top of the final frame. Matching American Gangster (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) jump-for-jump, Lima was scored 88.75 points to expand the Gamblers’ lead to 89 points.

The Gamblers then had the chance to clinch the win early as Claudio Montanha Jr. (Pacaembu, Brazil) was tasked with attempting the team’s re-ride draw White Face (Shuler/Pedra Bucking Bulls). Unable to deliver Austin the win against their Oklahoma rivals, Montanha was dispatched in 3.1 seconds, opening the door for the Freedom to win during the final out of the opening night of PBR Freedom Fest.

In the closing position for the Freedom was Kolbaba, set to attempt a familiar opponent in HomeBru (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.). Entering the match-up having covered the bull in their two showdowns on record, Kolbaba most recently rode HomeBru for a commanding 92.5 points during the championship round of the 2021 PBR World Finals. As the chute gate burst open in Oklahoma City, Kolbaba was in perfect time with the powerful bull as the crowd erupted in raucous cheer. Reaching the buzzer, Kolbaba celebrated dirtside as everyone inside Paycom Center eagerly awaited the score. Needing a score in excess of 89 points to win, Kolbaba was scored a monstrous 91 points, propelling the Freedom past the Gamblers by 2 points to win the game 179.25-177.25.

Courtesy of the win, the Freedom improved to 9-8 this season and will seek their sixth straight game win Saturday night when they take on the Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat (6-11). The Austin Gamblers are now 10-7 and will play the Nashville Stampede (4-13) when competition continues.

Fans can relive the showdown between the Oklahoma Freedom and Austin Gamblers as the CBS Game of the Week from PBR Freedom Fest. CBS Television Network will air the game Saturday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. ET.

PBR Freedom Fest continues Saturday, Sept. 17 at 6:45 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Paycom Center Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.

PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Oklahoma City. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.