OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University men's basketball team's rally against Bethel College fell short, 94-91, in double overtime on Thursday night in Wilson Field House. OU trailed by 12 points with 58 seconds left in regulation and outscored Bethel 14-2 to tie the game, sending the game into overtime.
Amil Fields finished the game with 22 rebounds. That mark is tied for second in the OU record book in single game rebounding.
Bethel had the early 8-5 lead over the Braves at the 16:36 mark in the first half. Ottawa answered with an 8-2 run to take a 13-10 lead over the Threshers. A basket by
Cody Fredrickson gave OU a 26-17 lead.
BC chipped away at the Brave lead and with 5:06 left in the half, Ottawa's lead was cut to 28-24. OU responded with back-to-back 3-pt field goals by
Kamren Woods and
Ian Moore to take a 10 point lead, 34-24 at the 3:59 mark in the first half.
Bethel stayed within striking distance, cutting OU's lead to 34-29 with 1:20 left in the first half. Ottawa held the Threshers scoreless in the final minute and scored the final four points of the half to take a 38-29 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, Bethel caught fire. The Threshers outscored the Braves 45-36 in regulation. With 7:21 on the clock, Bethel had 58-51 lead over the Braves. OU cut it to three, 60-57, on a
Deondre Buggage 3-pt field goal.
Bethel responded by pushing its lead back to double figures, 68-58 with 2:36 left in regulation. Ottawa cut the deficit to nine point, 69-60, on a Fredrickson basket. The Threshers, however, scored a 3-pt field goal to take a 72-60 lead over OU with 58 seconds on the clock.
Ottawa picked up the pressure full court which resulted in Thresher turnovers. BC turned the ball over three times in less than a minute, resulting in nine Brave points. With 12 seconds on the clock, Ottawa trailed 74-71.
Buggage got the ball and dribbled it to the top of the key. He pulled up with seven seconds on the clock and the ball went through the hoop, sending the game into overtime, 74-74.
In the first overtime period, it was
Ian Moore tying the game in the final seconds to send the game into a second overtime period, 81-81. Buggage hit the first basket of the second overtime, giving OU an 83-81 lead.
Bethel responded by outscoring OU 9-2, taking a 90-85 lead over the Braves. Ottawa cut the deficit to 92-91 on a 3-pt field goal by Moore with 10 seconds on the clock. The Braves were forced to foul and Bethel's Nick Bonner made both of his free throws to give the Threshers a 94-91 lead. Buggage's 3-pt attempt at the buzzer was no good and Bethel took the 94-91 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Ottawa shot 38.3 percent from the floor, 25 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 72 percent from the free throw line.
- OU led 16-15 in points off turnovers.
- Bethel had a 32-24 edge in points in the paint, a 20-6 advantage in second chance scoring, and led 18-16 in bench scoring.
- The Braves had three players in double figures led by Deondre Buggage's 30 points.
- Ian Moore finished the game with 24 points and Cody Fredrickson scored 11 points.
- Amil Fields led OU with 22 rebounds which ties his for second in the OU record book
- Buggage led the Braves with five assists
- Fields led OU with four steals.
Who is Next
Ottawa (4-6, 1-4) returns to the hardwood on Saturday, Dec. 3 in a road contest against Friends University in Wichita, Kan. The varsity reserve team starts at 2:45 p.m. and varsity will tip off at 7:00 p.m.
