The Braves won their second straight game, defeating Friends University 86-73 last Wednesday night in Wilson Field House. Ottawa shot 61.7 percent from the floor, 65 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 78.9 percent from the free throw line. Deondre Buggage scored 27 points on 9-for-14 shooting from the floor. He had eight assists.

Jayden Hibbitt leads the Braves in scoring, averaging 20.3 points per game. He is shooting 50.6 percent from the floor. Angok Anyang leads OU in rebounding (10.2), Deondre Buggage is the team's leader in assists (4.7), and Kamren Woods leads the Braves in steals (1.5) per game.

This season Ottawa is averaging 81.4 points, 40.5 rebounds, and 13.3 assists per game. OU is shooting 44.6 percent from the floor, 35.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 77.6 percent from the free throw line.

The Braves are ranked 48th in the NAIA in 3-pt field goals made per game (8.8), 26th in free throws made per game (16), ninth in free throw percentage (.776), seventh in defensive rebounds per game (30.8), 32nd in total rebounds per game (40.5), and 29th in personal fouls per game (14.7),

Ottawa is 6-5 this season in Wilson Field House. The Braves are averaging 80.8 points per game and shooting 42.2 percent from the floor and 33 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Opponents are scoring 80 points per game and shooting 41 percent from the floor and 32.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line.

In OU's 14 wins, the Braves are averaging 86.9 points per game. In their nine losses, OU is averaging 72.9 points per game.

Wednesday is the 183rd meeting between Ottawa University and McPherson College. OU leads the series 114-68 but McPherson is on a two game winning streak against the Braves. In the last seven games, Ottawa and McPherson have had three games go into overtime. Ottawa is 1-2 in those games. The last time the teams played an overtime contest was on Jan. 23, 2023 in McPherson. The Bulldogs won the game 106-98. The first meeting between the two teams happened in 1910. Ottawa won the game 40-25. McPherson won the first game this season, 93-81, in McPherson on Dec. 9.

In the loss on Dec. 9 to McPherson, Ottawa shot 46.7 percent from the floor, 41.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 85.7 percent from the free throw line. The Braves had three players in double figures, led by Deondre Buggage's 16 points. Jayden Hibbitt scored 15 points and Kamren Woods finished 14 points. Woods also led OU in rebounding with eight.

McPherson College is 16-8 overall, has a record of 11-7 in the KCAC, is on a one game winning streak, and has a record of 8-5 on the road this season.

The Bulldogs broke their two game losing streak with a 77-76 victory over Bethany College last Saturday at The Ryan Sport Center. Prior to that win, McPherson had lost 75-65 to Kansas Wesleyan on Feb. 3 and 97-88 to Evangel University on Feb. 7.

This season, McPherson is averaging 75 points, 40.3 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game. The Bulldogs are shooting 42 percent from the floor, 31.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 68.4 percent from the free throw line.

McPherson is ranked 37th in the NAIA in field goals attempted per game (65.5), 19th in offensive rebounds per game (12.9), 34th in total rebounds per game (40.3), 48th in rebound margin per game (5.4), 39th in blocks per game (3.6), 32nd in personal fouls per game (14.8), 47th in points per game allowed (71), 54th in opponent field goal percentage (.423), and third in opponent 3-pt field goal percentage (.278).

Collin Storr is averaging a double-double, scoring 15.6 points and pulling down 10.5 rebounds per game. He is shooting 54.1 percent from the floor. Curtis Rose is the team's leader in assists (2.8) and steals (1.3) per game.

In its 13 road games this season, McPherson is averaging 73 points per game and shooting 41.7 percent from the floor and 32.9 percent from behind the 3-pt line.

The Bulldogs are scoring 68.5 points per game in its eight losses and 78.2 points per game in its 16 wins.