The Braves fell 99-92 to Bethany College on Monday night in Hahn Gymnasium. Ottawa was down by 18 points at the half but rallied to cut the deficit to two points before falling to the Swedes. OU shot 42.9 percent from the floor, 40.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 87.1 percent from the free throw line.
Ottawa is 4-1 this season in Wilson Field House, averaging 88.8 points per game. OU is shooting 45.5 percent from the floor, 35.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 65.8 percent from the free throw line. Opponents are scoring 80.8 points per game and are shooting 41 percent from the floor, 34.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 69.8 percent from the free throw line.
Through nine games, the Braves are averaging 83.3 points, 38.8 rebounds, and 12.2 assists per game. OU is shooting 44.3 percent from the floor, 32.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 70.8 percent from the free throw line.
OU is ranked 21st in the NAIA in points (750), 30th in field goals attempted per game (67), 35th in free throws made per game (15.9), 34th in free throws attempted per game (22.4), and 29th in defensive rebounds per game (29.6).
Deondre Buggage leads the Braves in scoring (17),
Amil Fields is OU's leader in rebounds (7.2),
Cody Fredrickson is the team's leader in assists (2.3) per game, and
Ty Bland is the Braves' leader in steals (1.2) per game.
Thursday's game is the 152nd meeting between Ottawa University and Bethel College. The Braves lead the series 95-56 and are 2-3 in their last five games with Bethel. This will be just the second time in the last seven meetings that Bethel will not be ranked in the NAIA Top 25 or receiving votes.
OU is 4-1 against Bethel in the last five games in Wilson Field House. The teams split the season series last year with each team winning on the road. Bethel, then ranked no. 25, defeated OU 86-81 in Wilson Field House on Dec. 4. Ottawa beat, then no. 23, Bethel 76-71 in Thresher Gymnasium on Jan. 29.
The first time the two teams met was on Feb. 13, 1924 in North Newton. Bethel won the game 42-21. The Threshers won the first three meetings between the two teams. It was game no. 4 in the series that OU earned its first win over Bethel. On Feb. 21, 1929 in Wilson Field House, OU won the game 31-16.
Bethel College is 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the KCAC. The Threshers enter Thursday's game coming off a 63-54 loss to, then, no. 7 Oklahoma Wesleyan in Thresher Gymnasium. BC is 3-2 on the road this season.
In the loss to Oklahoma Wesleyan on Monday night, the contest was tied 30-30 at the half. OKWU outscored Bethel 33-24 in the second half to take the 63-54 victory. BC shot 37.5 percent from the floor, 27.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 50 percent from the free throw line. Nick Bonner led Bethel in scoring with 17 points on 6-for-14 shooting from the floor. Harper Jones was the other Threshers in double figures. He finished the game with 13 points on 5-for-12 shooting.
Through eight games, Bethel is averaging 70 points, 34.5 rebounds, and 13.6 assists per game. The Threshers are shooting 41.5 percent from the floor, 31.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 59.2 percent from the free throw line.
Bethel is ranked 31st in the NAIA in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (26.9) and 24th in turnovers per game (11).
Clifford Byrd II, who came off the bench for Bethel in its last game, leads the Threshers in scoring (14), rebounding (6), assists (5.7), and steals (3.4) per game. Jalyn Todd is the team's leader in blocks (0.6) per game.
