OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University men's basketball team fell 89-79 to (19) Baker University in Wilson Field House on Monday night.
The game went back and forth for the first 12 minutes of the contest. A basket by
Sam Williams put OU within 19-18 with 10:07 on the clock. Ottawa went cold and struggled to score for the next 2:55. Baker took advantage and extended its lead to 25-18 at the 7:05 mark in the first half.
Ottawa did not wilt and cut the deficit to four points, 31-27, on two free throws by
Jayden Hibbitt with 4:21 left in the first half. Baker responded by ending the half on an 18-4 run, taking a 49-31 lead into the locker room.
Baker increased its lead to 21 points, 58-37 with 16:53 remaining in the second half. OU changed its defense from man to zone and started a run, 23-11, to get within 69-60. Baker answered by pushing its lead back to double figures, 78-66, with 3:54 left in the game.
OU again cut into the Baker lead. Two free throws by Williams put OU within six points, 78-72, with 2:37 on the clock. The Braves could not get any closer and Baker took the 89-79 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Ottawa shot 38 percent from the floor, 21.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 82.6 percent from the free throw line.
- The Braves led 19-18 in points off turnovers. Baker had a 12-8 advantage in fast break points and led 36-32 in points in the paint, 16-13 in second-chance points, and 17-5 in bench scoring.
- OU had four players in double figures led by Jayden Hibbitt's 21 points. He finished the game with a double-double, pulling down 11 rebounds. Hibbitt also had two steals.
- Deondre Buggage finished the game with 19 points and three assists.
- Keith Robinson and Najee Jones had 15 points apiece. Jones had three assists and Robinson tallied eight rebounds.
Who is Next
Ottawa (1-1) will now host the Andy Carrier Memorial Basketball Classic on Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2. The Braves will play Calvary University at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Kansas Christian College at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.
