Ottawa opened the season with two wins in the Braves Booster Classic last weekend in Wilson Field House. OU defeated Kansas Christian College 118-82 last Friday night and Haskell Indian Nations University, 82-74, last Saturday night.

Through two games, Ottawa is shooting 49.3 percent from the floor, 38.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 67.4 percent from the free throw line. OU is averaging 100 points, 49 rebounds, and 19 assists per game.

Deondre Buggage was named KCAC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in OU's two victories last week. He averaged 27 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in two OU victories last week. Buggage shot 54.3 percent from the floor, 50 percent (9-for-18) from behind the 3-pt line, and 87.5 percent from the free throw line.

The Braves are ranked 16th in the NAIA in points per game (100), 24th in field goals made per game (36.5), 20th in field goals attempted per game (74), 25th in 3-pt field goals made per game (11.5), 28th in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (30), 48th in free throws made per game (15.5), 43rd in free throws attempted per game (23), 29th in offensive rebounds per game (14), 11th in defensive rebounds per game (35), 10th in total rebounds per game (49), 42nd in rebound margin per game (11.5), 35th in assists per game (19), and 49th in personal fouls per game (15).

Deondre Buggage leads the Braves in scoring (27). He is shooting 54.3 percent from the floor, 50 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 87.5 percent from the free throw line. Tristen Hull is OU's leader in rebound per game (9). Ian Moore is OU's leader in assists (3.5) per game.

Friday's game is the third meeting between Ottawa University and Hastings College. It is the first time the teams have played since 1957. The first meeting was in Wilson Field House on Dec. 14, 1957. OU won the game 90-78. Six days later, the teams met against in Hastings, Neb. The Broncos won the game 70-66 on Dec. 20, 1957.

Saturday's game between Ottawa and Concordia University is the fourth time the teams have met. Ottawa leads the series, 3-1. The two teams met in the final game of the NAIA Men's Basketball Division II National Tournament. After that game was completed, an 87-84 Ottawa win in Sioux Falls, S.D, the tournament was canceled due to CoVID-19. The first meeting happened on Jan. 2, 1993 in Seward. OU won the game in overtime, 67-66. Concordia, then ranked no. 23, won the last meeting between the teams on Dec. 29, 2021 in Wilson Field House, 91-82.

Hastings College finished the 2021-22 season with an overall record of 7-23 and a GPAC mark of 2-18. The Broncos were picked to finish 10th this season by the GPAC coaches. Todd Raridon is in his first season as head coach of the Broncos. He had previous stops at North Central College and Nebraska Wesleyan University. He has an overall coaching record of 581-285 which ranked him eighth among active NCAA Division III coaches and 30th all-time in NCAA Division III coaching victories.

Hastings' senior guard Karsen Gansebom averaged 17.0 points per game and shot 37.7 percent from 3-point range last season while earning Second Team All-GPAC accolades. The Bennington, Neb., native also garnered honorable mention all-conference honors the previous season. (Concordia Website)

Concordia University finished last season with an overall record of 28-7 and tied for first place in the GPAC. The team qualified for its 11th trip to the NAIA National Tournament. The regular season championship was the program's first since 1995-96. Concordia was picked to finish fourth by the conference coaches in the GPAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Bulldogs are ready to follow up one of the greatest seasons in program history. The defending GPAC champions are unranked in the preseason (listed as receiving votes) in large part due to the graduation of guards Carter Kent and Justin Wiersema. The strength of the team is its uber athletic frontcourt. Coach Ben Limback's squad is fueled by energetic point guard AJ Watson. Concordia was picked fourth in the GPAC preseason poll. A revamped rotation will include the high-flying sophomore Tristan Smith and sharpshooting guard Brad Bennett, who missed the stretch run of 2021-22 due to injury. (Concordia Website)