Box Score LINDSBORG, Kan. – The Ottawa University men's basketball team fell 89-86 to Bethany College in Hahn Gymnasium on Saturday evening. Ottawa trailed by as much as 17 points in the second half. OU cut the Swede lead to two points in the final minute of the game but was not able to complete the comeback.
Ottawa led 8-7 over Bethany in the opening minutes of the first half. The teams exchanged points and with 13:23 left in the half, a basket by
Deondre Buggage gave OU a 16-15 lead.
The Swedes answered with a 21-5 run and with 7:52 left in the first half, had a 37-20 lead over OU. The Braves chipped away at the Bethany lead. OU scored the final five points of the half on three by
Amil Fields and two free throws from
Payton Kaiser and went into the locker room trailing 46-36.
A basket by
Jayden Hibbitt at the start of the second half cut the Bethany lead to 46-38. The Swedes were able to push their lead back to double digits and with 15:45 on the clock, had a 56-42 lead.
Ottawa again cut into Bethany lead and were within 57-48 after a Kaiser free throw. The Swedes responded with a 17-9 run and led 74-57 with 7:51 remaining in regulation. In the final seven minutes of the game, Ottawa's defensive intensity stepped up.
OU held Bethany to six made field goals for the remainder of the contest. The OU offense came along with its defense, outscoring Bethany 29-15 down the stretch.
The Braves cut into the Bethany lead and with 3:37 on the clock, were within 79-72 after four straight points by
Kamren Woods. A three by Buggage at the 2:26 mark cut the Swede lead to 81-77.
The Swedes scored the next four points to increase their lead to 85-77 with 1:36 left in the contest. A three by Hibbitt put OU within 85-80. The Braves then fouled, and Bethany's Noah Simiskey made one of two free throws to give BC a 86-80 lead with 1:13 on the clock.
Buggage pushed the ball down the floor and found Woods for the three and OU trailed 86-83. Ottawa fouled again. This time sending Jamal Frenchwood to the line. He made both free throws to give Bethany an 88-83 lead.
Buggage once again attacked the basket, and this time was fouled. He went to the line and made one of two free throws to cut the deficit to 88-84 with 25 seconds remaining in the game. On Buggage's miss from the line, the ball went out of bounds and OU retained possession. Buggage was fouled again. This time he made both free throws and OU was down 88-86.
After two missed one and ones by Bethany and a turnover by OU, the Braves had the ball with 15 seconds on the clock. Buggage's shot was no good and the Swedes rebounded the ball with a little less than 10 seconds on the clock. OU fouled sending Frenchwood to the line. He missed his first free throw attempt but made his second and Bethany led 89-86.
Ottawa had two looks at the basket in the final seconds of the game but were not able to score and Bethany took the 89-86 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Ottawa shot 40.8 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 80 percent from the free throw line.
- OU had four players in double figures led by Jayden Hibbitt's double-double. He scored 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.
- Deondre Buggage scored 17 points. He had seven assists and three steals.
- Kamren Woods finished the game with 15 points and Amil Fields came off the bench to score 11 points.
Who is Next
Ottawa (15-10, 10-9) is back on the road on Monday, Feb. 19 against (RV) Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kan. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
