The Braves defeated Avila University, 81-80, on a 3-pt field goal at the buzzer by
Ian Moore last Saturday night in Wilson Field House. Ottawa shot 48.4 percent from the floor, 44.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 64.3 percent from the free throw line. The Braves had five players in double figures led by
Ty Bland's 18 points.
Ian Moore scored 13 points,
Elijah Mason and
Kamren Woods scored 12 points apiece, and
Deondre Buggage finished with 10 points. Bland led OU with seven rebounds. Woods and Bland finished with three assists apiece.
Deondre Buggage leads the Braves in scoring (17.2),
Amil Fields is OU's leader in rebounding (8.4),
Cody Fredrickson leads the team in assists (2.1),
Elijah Mason is the Braves' leader in blocks (0.6), and Fields leads the team in steals (1.3) per game.
Ottawa is 1-4 this season in road games and 1-3 in road conference games. Away from Wilson Field House the Braves are averaging 82 points per game while allowing 84.4. OU is shooting 44.4 percent from the floor, 33 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 74.4 percent from the free throw line. Opponents are shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, 31.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 68.5 percent from the free throw line.
In eight KCAC games this season, OU is scoring 83.1 points per game. The Braves are shooting 43.2 percent from the floor, 35.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 69 percent from the free throw line. KCAC opponents are scoring 85.1 points per game and shooting 45.3 percent from the floor, 34.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 69.4 percent from the free throw line.
Through 13 games this season, Ottawa is averaging 82.8 points, 37.8 rebounds, and 12.6 assists per game. They are shooting 43.6 percent from the floor, 32.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 69.8 percent from the free throw line.
Ottawa is ranked 10ht in the NAIA in total points scored (1,077), 48th in points per game (82.8), 19th in field goals attempted per game (67.5), 25th in free throws made per game (15.6), 26th in free throws attempted per game (22.4), and 48th in defensive rebounds per game (28.5).
Tuesday's game is the 25th meeting between the Braves and the Eagles. Oklahoma Wesleyan University leads the series, 15-9, and is on a four game winning streak against OU. Ottawa's last win over OKWU happened on Dec. 17, 2020 in Wilson Field House. OU defeated OKWU 99-83.
OU is 1-11 against OKWU at the Mueller Sports Center and has lost seven straight on the road in Bartlesville. Ottawa's last road win at the Mueller Sports Center was on Dec. 1, 2016. The Braves won the game 76-68.
The first meeting between the two teams took place on Nov. 29, 1980 in Bartlesville. OKWU won the game 66-65. The Eagles won both games last season, defeating OU 81-71 on Jan. 5 in Wilson Field House and 80-60 on Feb. 22 in Mueller Sports Center.
This will be the third straight game that the two teams have met that OKWU has been ranked in the top 10 in the NAIA. On Jan. 5, 2022, OKWU was ranked no. 4 and on Feb. 12, the Eagles were ranked no. 6 in the NAIA.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University has a record of 11-1 overall, is 7-0 in the KCAC and is ranked no. 8 in the latest NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Eagles have won seven straight games with its last loss coming on Nov. 7 in Springfield, Mo. against Evangel University, 73-68.
OKWU enters Tuesday's game coming off a 58-39 victory over Avila University in Kansas City, Mo. last Wednesday. The Eagles shot 35.1 percent from the floor, 20.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 76.5 percent from the free throw line. Brandon Bird led OKWU in scoring with 14 points. Jaden Lietzke was the other Eagle in double figures, finishing with 11 points. He had a double-double, pulling down 11 rebounds.
Jaden Lietzke leads Oklahoma Wesleyan in scoring (14.8), rebounding (6.6), and blocks (1.3). Derrick Talton, Jr. is OKWU's leader in assists (4.9) and steals (2.1).
