Ottawa is on a two game winning streak after defeating Friends University 97-91 last Saturday night in Wichita. OU shot 53.5 from the floor, 45.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 70 percent from the free throw line. The Braves had six players in double figures led by Jayden Hibbitt's 25 points on 11-for-15 shooting from the floor.

The Braves are led in scoring by Jayden Hibbitt, who is averaging 21.1 points per game. He is shooting 57.5 percent from the floor and 52.9 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Angok Anyang leads OU in rebounding, averaging 9.4 rebounds per game. Deondre Buggage is the team's leader in assists per game (4.3) and Kamren Woods is OU's leader in steals per game (2.0).

Jayden Hibbitt has earned his second KCAC Offensive Player of the Week honor this season. In two wins last week, Hibbitt averaged 25.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He shot 59.4 percent from the floor, 55.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 100 percent from the free throw line.

This season, Ottawa is averaging 84.4 points, 40 rebounds, and 15.8 assists per game. They are shooting 46 percent from the floor, 35.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 72.4 percent from the free throw line.

OU is ranked 48th in the NAIA in points per game (84.4), 40th in field goals attempted per game (65.9), 30th in 3-pt field goals made per game (9.2), 31st in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (26), 27th in defensive rebounds per game (29.6), 42nd in assists per game (15.8), and 20th in personal fouls per game (14.3).

The Braves are 3-1 in Wilson Field House this season. Ottawa is averaging 87.3 points per game and shooting 41.7 percent from the floor, 31.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 76.9 percent from the free throw line. Opponents are averaging 80.5 points per game in Wilson Field House this season and shooting 40.8 percent from the floor, 31.9 percent from behind the arc, and 72.3 percent from the free throw line.

In wins this season, Ottawa is averaging 91.5 points while holding opponents to 82 points per game. In their three losses, the Braves are scoring 70.3 points per game and opponents are averaging 77 points per contest.

Wednesday is the 190th meeting between Ottawa University and Kansas Wesleyan University. The Braves lead the series, 107-82, but Kansas Wesleyan has won three straight against Ottawa. KWU won both meetings last season, defeating the Braves 78-77 in overtime on Dec. 7 in Salina and then taking an 87-76 victory in Wilson Field House on Feb. 4. Ottawa has lost two straight to the Coyotes in Wilson Field House with OU's last victory at home over KWU coming on Jan. 22, 2022, 67-60. The first meeting between the two teams happened 1900. Ottawa won the game, 18-8.

For you history buffs out there: Dr. James Naismith, the Father of Basketball, attended the Feb. 8, 1936 game in Ottawa between the Braves and Coyotes. The game was played at, what is now called, Washburn Towers (Ottawa Junior High). The Coyotes won the game, 31-24. Dr. Naismith passed away almost three years later in Lawrence on Nov. 28, 1939.

Kansas Wesleyan University has an overall record of 6-4 and a KCAC mark of 3-1. The Coyotes have won two straight games and have a record of 2-0 on the road this season.

During its two game winning streak, KWU has victories at McPherson (76-69) on Nov. 29 and at home vs. Bethany (73-59) on Dec. 2.

This season, Kansas Wesleyan is averaging 80.2 points, 34.2 rebounds, and 13.3 assists per game. KWU is shooting 46.9 percent from the floor, 30.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 76.7 percent from the free throw line.

The Coyotes are ranked 37th in the NAIA in points (802), 22nd in free throws made per game (17.8), 41st in free throws attempted per game (23.2), and 19th in free throw percentage (.767).

Jun Murdock leads KWU in scoring, averaging 18 points per game. He is shooting 45.7 percent from the floor and 30.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Alex Littlejohn is KWU's leader in rebounding, averaging 11.3 rebounds per game. He is averaging a double-double this season, 16 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Littlejohn's scoring and rebounding has picked up in conference play. He is averaging 19.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. Murdock also leads the team in assists (4.7) per game and steals per game (2.2).

Away from Mabee Arena, the Coyotes are averaging 73 points per game and shooting 44.8 percent from the floor. That is seven points less than the 80 points the team is averaging overall for the season.

In the Coyotes four losses this season, the team is shooting 25.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line (21-for-83).