OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University men's basketball team avenged an early season loss to McPherson on Wednesday night in Wilson Field House by taking an 81-79 victory. With four games remaining in the regular season Ottawa is in sixth place in the KCAC with a record of 10-8. The top eight teams in the conference qualify for the KCAC Tournament.

Ottawa found itself down in the opening minutes of the first half but battled back to take a 14-9 lead over McPherson. The Bulldogs rallied, scoring 10 straight points to take a 19-14 lead over OU with 11:39 left in the first half.

Three times the Bulldogs pushed their lead to seven points, their largest of the half. All three times, Ottawa was able to stop the MC run. Ottawa ended the half on a 7-0 run. Deondre Buggage's basket in the final seconds of the half sent the teams into the locker room tied, 39-39.

In opening minutes of the second half, Ottawa retook the lead. A 3-pt field goal by Angok Anyang gave OU a 55-49 lead. McPherson rallied and tied the game at 60 all with 9:38 left in regulation.

The Braves scored the next six points, taking a 66-60 lead on a basket by Jayden Hibbitt. McPherson rallied again and took a 71-68 lead with 4:16 on the clock. That lead did not last long A 3-pt field goal by Buggage tied the game, for the seventh time, at 71-71.

The Bulldogs scored five straight points, retaking the lead 76-71 at the 2:57 mark in the second half. Ottawa answered with five straight points of its own, tying the game at 76-76, on a three by Hibbitt.

McPherson answered with a basket at the 1:42 mark from Curtis Rose to retake the lead, 78-76. A missed jumper by OU and a Bulldog turnover gave the Braves the ball with a little less than a minute on the clock.

Buggage drove the lane kicked out the ball to Payton Kaiser for the three. He connected, giving OU a 79-78 lead with 55 seconds on the clock. McPherson was able to tie the game, for the ninth time, on its next offensive possession. Collin Storr was fouled. He made one of two free throw attempts, and the game was tied 79-79 with 38 second left in the contest.

After a time out by McPherson, Buggage attacked the basket. His shot attempt found nothing but net, giving the Braves an 81-79 lead with 23 seconds on the clock. McPherson called a time out after they crossed half court with 14 seconds left in the contest. Rose attempted a three just before the buzzer sounded. It was no good and OU took the 81-79 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Ottawa shot 50.8 percent from the floor, 55 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 80 percent from the free throw line.
• Deondre Buggage led OU in scoring with 28 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the floor. HE also had nine assists and two steals.
• Angok Anyang and Jayden Hibbitt scored 13 points apiece and Kamren Woods finished the game with 12 points.
• Anyang led OU with four blocks.
• Hibbitt finished with eight rebounds.

Who is Next
Ottawa (15-9, 10-8) returns to the court on Saturday, February 17 against Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.