The Braves earned its first KCAC win of the season, defeating Bethel College 90-84 on Wednesday evening in Wilson Field House. 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 Hibbit leads the Braves in scoring, averaging 20.6 points per game. He is shooting 55.4 percent from the floor, 50 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 76.5 percent from the free throw line.
Angok Anyang is OU's leader in rebounds, averaging 8.4 per game.
Deondre Buggage leads the team in assists (4) per game and
Kamren Woods is the Braves' leader in steals, averaging 2.1 per game.
The Braves are 2-2 on the road this season. The Braves are averaging 78.5 points per game and shooting 49.1 percent from the floor. Opponents are scoring 77.5 points per game and shooting 46 percent from the floor.
Ottawa is averaging 82.9 points, 40 rebounds, and 15.1 assists per game. The Braves are shooting 45 percent from the floor, 34 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 72.5 percent from the floor.
OU is ranked 48th in the NAIA in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (25.4), 36th in defensive rebounds per game (29.6), and 26th in personal fouls per game (14.6).
Saturday's game is the 146th meeting between Ottawa University and Friends University. Ottawa leads the series, 85-60, and is on a five game winning streak over the Falcons. OU won two closely contested games last season. OU won 78-75 on Dec. 3 at the Garvey Center and then took an 88-82 victory over Friends in Wilson Field House on Feb. 1. Ottawa has won two straight over Friends at the Garvey Center. The first meeting between the two teams happened in 1910. Ottawa won the game 28-26.
Friends University is 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the KCAC. The Falcons had their two game winning streak broken with an 84-71 loss to Bethany College on Wednesday in Lindsborg. Friends is 3-0 in the Garvey Center this season.
The Falcons are averaging 83.1 points, 34.3 rebounds and 12.7 assists per game. Friends is shooting 47.6 percent from the floor, 36 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 70.9 percent from the free throw line.
Friends is ranked 45th in the NAIA in field goals made per game (30.9).
Friends University head men's basketball coach, Phil McClintock played a basketball at Ottawa and spent seven seasons as the associate head coach with the OU men's basketball program.
KJ Spiller leads the Falcons in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game. He is shooting 48.6 percent from the floor and 30.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Tim Barbieri is Friends' leader in rebounding with 6.9 per game. Steele Chapman leads the team in assists (2.6) per game and Kee'on Hutton is the Falcons' leader in steals (1.6) per game.
At home this season, Friends is averaging 97.3 points per game compared to the 72.5 the Falcons score on the road. Friends shoots 52.7 percent from the floor, 43.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 74.2 percent from the free throw line in the Garvey Center.
