OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University men's basketball team got back on the winning track with a 90-84 victory over Bethel College in Wilson Field House on Wednesday night.

Both teams shot the ball well in the first 10 minutes. The game was tied four times during that stretch. With the contest tied at 22 all, the Braves broke the tie on a 3-pt field goal by Deondre Buggage. Ottawa scored the next nine points, taking a 34-22 lead over Bethel with 6:03 left in the half.

Bethel cut the OU lead to nine points, 34-25 but Ottawa scored the next five points to take a 39-25 lead on another Buggage three. The Threshers, however, ended the half on an 8-2 run and OU took a 41-33 lead into the locker room.

Ottawa continued to shoot the ball well in the second half and had a 53-39 lead with 14 minutes remaining in regulation. The Braves pushed its lead to 17 points, 75-58, after a Jayden Hibbitt jumper with 4:51 left in the game.

The Threshers did not go away and chipped away at the OU lead. Bethel applied full court pressure in the final four minutes of the game and cut Ottawa's lead to six points, 90-84, with 1.4 seconds on the clock. Ottawa was able to inbound the ball, running out the clock to take the 90-84 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Ottawa shot 49.2 percent from the floor, 39.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 76 percent from the free throw line.
• Jayden Hibbitt led OU with 26 points, Deondre Buggage scored 21 points, Kamren Woods finished the game with 12 points, and Payton Kaiser had 10 points.
• Angok Anyang led OU with nine rebounds.
• Buggage finished the game with six assists.

Who is Next
Ottawa (5-3, 1-2) returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 2 against Friends University in Wichita, Kan. The Falcons are coached by former men's basketball player and men's basketball assistant coach, Phil McClintock. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.