AUSTIN, Texas – The Carolina Cowboys (11-1-1) bounced back from their first loss of the season last night with a flawless performance on Sunday against the New York Mavericks (6-8), 492.25-88.75, inside Moody Center during the final day of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series Gambler Days.

In Carolina’s second perfect game of the season, and fourth in league history, Adriano Salgado, Dawson Branton, Derek Kolbaba, Daylon Swearingen and Cooper Davis all made the 8 to defeat New York. Already up two ride scores to none, Salgado put the game away early to close out the third frame, riding Flyin Wired for a monstrous 92 points, the second-highest ride score of the weekend.

The Cowboys’ 492.25 points totaled the third-highest in PBR Teams history.

The Cowboys hold a 2.5-game lead atop the 2024 PBR Teams standings after a 1-1 trip to Texas. Courtesy of a 2-1 weekend, the Mavericks climbed to No. 8 in the standings.

Sunday afternoon’s action began with a thriller as the Texas Rattlers (6-8) bested the Oklahoma Wildcatters (5-8-1), 258.75-177.25, in a seesaw affair that featured five rides. Eduardo Matos opened the day’s competition by riding Triple Aught for a game-high 89 points, but Texas’s Lone Star State duo of Daniel Keeping and Mason Taylor turned the tables in the third and fourth frames, giving the Rattlers a 174.5-89 lead. Taking advantage of a re-ride opportunity, Josh Frost stole the lead back for Oklahoma, riding Lapua away from his hand for 88.25 points. However, Claudio Montanha Jr. stole the show in the game’s final out, surviving mayhem in the bucking chute, making it out onto the dirt with five seconds left on the clock, then hanging on to Lap Dancer for 84.25 points to secure the win for Texas.

Texas concluded PBR Teams’ third annual Gambler Days 2-1 to rise to No. 6 in the standings, while the Wildcatters went 1-2 to fall to No. 9.

In the second game of the day, the Florida Freedom (6-7) bested the Arizona Ridge Riders (4-9), 231-89.25. Florida never looked back after Alex Cerqueira put the Freedom up early by riding The Kraken for 87.25 points. After Joao Lucas Campos extended Florida’s lead by riding Let’s Roll for 88.25 points, Keyshawn Whitehorse broke through for Arizona in the fourth frame for 89.25 points on Constant Payne. However, John Crimber converted in Florida’s final out to put the game out of reach, moving the rookie to an impressive 10-for-17 on the season despite a buckoff later in the shootout round.

Florida finished its trip to the Lone Star State 2-0 and is currently No. 5 in the standings, while Arizona dropped both of its games in Austin, extending its winless skid to six games to sit at No. 10, despite entering Sunday with the third-highest ride percentage in the league.

In the final game of the weekend, the Austin Gamblers (7-7) finally found the win column on home turf, defeating the Missouri Thunder (6-8), 177.75-0. After Lucas Divino got it started for the hometown team by riding Mike’s Motive for a game-high 89.25 points, Jose Vitor Leme took a victory lap in the final out aboard Hoka Hey for 88.5 points to extend his lead atop the MVP standings with his two previous MVP banners already hanging in the Moody Center rafters.

After a 1-2 weekend at home, the Gamblers sit at No. 3 in the standings while the Thunder, who went 1-1 in the Lone Star State, head into their homestand next weekend ranked No. 7.

The PBR Camping World Team Series next heads to Springfield, Missouri, for PBR Teams: Thunder Days, Friday, August 30 – Sunday, September 1 at Great Southern Bank Arena. Tickets are available and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, Great Southern Bank Arena Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.

Merit Street Media will broadcast all three days of action from PBR Thunder Days. Viewers can watch on the Merit+ app or go to https://www.meritstreetmedia.com/channel-finder to find the Merit Street Media cable channel in their area. On Sunday, CBS Television Network will air the Game of the Week beginning at noon ET. On-demand replays of all the PBR Teams action will be available the following day on the Merit+ app. RidePass on Pluto TV will also air Teams replays five days later.

Game Recaps –

Rattlers Walk Off Wildcatters to Begin Final Day of PBR Teams: Gambler Days in Austin

Oklahoma Wildcatters: 177.25 Texas Rattlers: 258.75

The final day of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams: Gambler Days began with the Texas Rattlers (6-8) walking off the Oklahoma Wildcatters (5-8-1), 258.75-177.25, courtesy of a bottom-of-the-fifth ride from Claudio Montanha Jr.

Eduardo Matos started the day with a bang, riding Triple Aught for an impressive 89 points to put the Wildcatters up before Texas even had a chance to score. The elite animal athlete from Addi Drury/Nothin’ But Try/Diggers was unable to solve the best riders in the world this weekend – ridden in both his outs in Austin. Brady Fielder, sporting a four-out ride streak, was next up, but the Rattlers’ leadoff man suffered his first buckoff of the weekend as Wild Card proved too much for the Aussie to handle after 4.01 seconds.

Kase Hitt attempted to extend Oklahoma’s lead but was bucked off by Air Marshall after a heartbreaking 7.90 seconds before the Rattlers’ Daniel Keeping finally broke through for Texas, topping Stryker for 86 points to close the gap on the Wildcatters.

Still in search of his first ride since returning from reconstructive knee surgery, Oklahoma’s Austin Richardson leaped out of the gate aboard Boujee Boy to start the third frame but was bested by the powerful bovine competitor in 4.53 seconds. Now with a chance to give the Rattlers the lead, Maypearl, Texas, native Mason Taylor roared out of the gates on Smooth Criminal and sat tall for the requisite 8 seconds for 88.5 points.

Now down 174.5-89, the Wildcatters’ Josh Frost attempted to ride Ridgeway but was fouled by the animal athlete and awarded a re-ride. Qynn Andersen had an opportunity to force Oklahoma into a must-ride situation, but he was bested by Buck Nasty after 2.56 seconds to keep the Wildcatters within one ride score. However, Cort McFadden failed to convert for the Sooner State squad, bucking off Top Dollar in 2.84 seconds.

Now in a must-ride situation, Frost cashed in on his re-ride opportunity on Lapua, topping him for 88.25 points to take back the lead for the Wildcatters.

With the game on the line, Texas turned to Claudio Montanha Jr., competing in his first PBR Teams event of the season. The veteran rider survived mayhem in the bucking chutes while he was on the clock, then, with five seconds to spare, thundered out of the chutes on Lap Dancer to make the 8 for 84.25 points and give the Rattlers the walk-off win in front a roaring Moody Center crowd.

Florida Freedom Overwhelm the Arizona Ridge Riders for Their Sixth Win of the Season

Florida Freedom: 231 Arizona Ridge Riders: 89.25

The Florida Freedom (6-7) rode three bulls to defeat the Arizona Ridge Riders (4-9), 231-89.25, extending Arizona’s winless streak to six games, in the second game of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams: Gambler Days Sunday afternoon at the Moody Center.

Florida’s Alex Cerqueira put the Freedom up early by riding The Kraken for 87.25 points, a lead the team would never relinquish. The powerful bovine competitors then gained the upper hand, besting the next five cowboys, beginning with Nick Tetz, who bucked off Spice in 4.57 seconds. It was the Canadian’s first buckoff of the season after he started the 2024 campaign a perfect 2-for-2 before competing in his home country over the last month.

Next up was Florida’s Joao Henrique Lucas, who the team signed earlier in the week, but he failed to convert aboard Washita Red, losing the rope after 3.86 seconds. Veteran Eduardo Aparecido attempted to get the Ridge Riders back on track in the second frame aboard Down Payment but couldn’t hang on past 4.65 seconds. Elizmar Jeremias had a chance to extend Florida’s lead but was bested by All Hat No Rattle after just 2.11 seconds. Luciano de Castro was next to go for the Grand Canyon State squad but shared a similar fate to Jeremias, bucking off DirtyBru in 6.12 seconds.

Finally, Joao Lucas Campos broke through to end the five-out buckoff streak, extending Florida’s lead by riding Let’s Roll for 88.25 points. Arizona refused to go down without a fight, however, as Keyshawn Whitehorse continued his resurgent season by topping Constant Payne for a game-high 89.25 points to close the gap on Florida. Whitehorse is now 7-for-13 (53.84%) on the season to lead Arizona.

During the top of the final frame, the Freedom’s closer, rookie John Crimber, posted the dagger ride by hanging on to straight-hopping Dirty Hairy Deeds for a measly 55 points – the re-ride was declined – to put the game out of reach with one out remaining. Eli Vastbinder was bucked off by Kodiac in 3.9 seconds to close out the final game with the Ridge Riders’ fate already sealed.

Carolina Bounces Back After First Loss of Season with Flawless Victory Over New York Mavericks

New York Mavericks: 88.75 Carolina Cowboys: 429.25

Following their first loss of the season on Saturday night, the Carolina Cowboys (11-1-1) went a perfect 5-for-5 to wallop the New York Mavericks (6-7), 429.5-88.75, in the third game of the final day of action inside Moody Center for PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams: Gambler Days.

Cooper Davis got the scoring started for Carolina after New York’s Hudson Bolton bucked off Bangarang in 4.71 seconds, as the determined Texan desperately hung on for the final two seconds while perpendicular to Skippy for a modest 78.5 points.

After Ernie Courson bucked off Beef Cake in 4.71 seconds, Derek Kolbaba kept it going for Carolina, topping Outlaw for 86.5 points to put Carolina up two ride scores to none.

Davi Henrique de Lima failed to convert for New York to begin the third frame before Adriano Salgado stole the show aboard Flyin Wired for a monstrous, game-high 92 points, the second-highest score of the weekend. Salgado and Flyin Wired are quickly becoming must-watch television, as the duo danced in perfect time in Oklahoma City for 93 points earlier this season in July. The elite animal athlete from Tommy Julian/BS Cattle Co has now given up three consecutive rides dating back to his first duel with Salgado, but they have all been for 92 or more points.

With the crowd still buzzing from Salgado’s heroics and with the game already decided, Leandro Machado leaped out of the chutes for New York on Tulsa Time but lost the rope after just 1.96 seconds. 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen then, like Davis, converted for Carolina as a result of sheer will, riding Barbarosa for 84.25 points. The cowboy from the Empire State thrived in the Lone Star State, going a perfect 2-for-2 on the weekend.

Veteran Mauricio Gulla Moreira finally broke through for New York in its final out, covering Tijuana Two-Step for 88.75 points, his third qualified ride of the weekend. The Mavericks could only watch helplessly as Dawson Branton completed Carolina’s perfect game by riding Whiplash for 88 points.

The 429.25 points was the third-highest score in PBR Teams history and the team’s second perfect game of the 2024 season. It is the fourth perfect game in league history and the first time in PBR Teams history that a team has had two perfect games in the same regular season after Carolina beat the Florida Freedom by going a perfect 5-for-5 in Oklahoma City on July 13.

Austin Gamblers Defeat Missouri Thunder Behind Leme, Divino to Close Out Homestand with a Victory

Missouri Thunder: 0 Austin Gamblers: 177.75

After starting their homestand weekend 0-2, the Austin Gamblers (7-7) bounced back to beat the Missouri Thunder (6-8), 177.75-0, to the delight of the Austin, Texas, crowd on the last day of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams: Gambler Days.

Missouri captain Andrew Alvidrez had his four-out ride streak broken by Coco in the top of the first before Kaique Pacheco bucked off Black Gold in 4.88 seconds for Austin. After Missouri’s Boudreaux Campbell was unseated by Ugly This in 4.36 seconds, Lucas Divino broke through for the home team by riding Mike’s Motive for a game-high 89.25 points.

Next up was the Thunder’s Grayson Cole, who has had a strong start to his 2024 season, but he was shocked by Electric Kitty and marked for a slap after 3.61 seconds. Muleshoe, Texas, native Dalton Kasel was next out of the gate for Austin, but he was unable to handle Mercy, who moved to a perfect 9-for-9 after bucking off Kasel in 4.09 seconds.

After the Thunder were awarded a re-ride during Dawson Gleaves’ out, Gamblers veteran Ramon de Lima had a chance to extend Austin’s lead but failed to convert aboard Big Chili, bucking off the massive bovine in 4.6 seconds.

With two-time PBR Teams MVP Jose Vitor Leme looming on the other side, Missouri star Paulo Eduardo Rossetto knew he needed to convert to give his team a chance. However, Wooderson immediately caught the Brazilian leaning forward and dispatched Rossetto in 2.28 seconds.

Now in a must-ride situation, the head coaching duo of Luke Snyder and Ross Coleman turned to Felipe Furlan to try and keep the Thunder’s hopes alive. Unfortunately for the Show-Me State squad, Furlan couldn’t conquer Watch Out and was bucked off after 6.9 seconds. With the game already in hand, Leme roared out of the chutes with the Moody Center celebrating the Gamblers’ first victory of the weekend and made the 8 on Hoka Hey for 88.5 points, extending his lead atop the 2024 MVP standings to 120.5 points.

PBR TEAMS: GAMBLER DAYS EVENT STANDINGS – AUGUST 24:

Here are the event standings after the final day of competition for the PBR Camping World Team Series event in Austin, Texas:

1. Kansas City Outlaws 2-0-0 – 608.75 2. Florida Freedom 2-0-0 – 408.00 3. Texas Rattlers 2-1-0 – 607.50 4. New York Mavericks 2-1-0 – 524.50 5. Carolina Cowboys 1-1-0 – 518.75 6. Missouri Thunder 1-1-0 – 174.75 7. Oklahoma Wildcatters 1-2-0 – 443.00 8. Austin Gamblers 1-2-0 – 266.25 9. Arizona Ridge Riders 0-2-0 – 268.00 10. Nashville Stampede 0-2-0 – 260.00

PBR TEAMS SEASON STANDINGS:

Here are the current Team standings for the regular season after the final day of competition for PBR Teams: Gambler Days in Austin, Texas:

1. Carolina Cowboys 11-1-1 3,218.00 2. Kansas City Outlaws 9-4-0 2,499.00 3. Austin Gamblers 7-7-0 2,134.00 4. Nashville Stampede 7-7-0 1,982.00 5. Florida Freedom 6-7-0 1,939.50 6. Texas Rattlers 6-8-0 2,169.00 7. Missouri Thunder 6-8-0 1,833.50 8. New York Mavericks 6-8-0 1,559.50 9. Oklahoma Wildcatters 5-8-1 2,136.50 10. Arizona Ridge Riders 4-9-0 1,975.00

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media