SALINA, Kan. – The Ottawa University men's basketball team ended its season with a 75-69 loss to (RV) Kansas Wesleyan University on Thursday night in Mabee Arena in the KCAC Tournament Quarterfinals.
The Braves trailed 12-6 at the start of the first half. Ottawa chipped away at the deficit and after five straight points by
Deondre Buggage, led 21-17 with 10:52 left in the half.
Kansas Wesleyan answered with seven straight points, retaking the lead, 24-21. KWU continued to hold its lead and increased it to eight points, 34-26 , with 1:49 left in the half.
Baskets by
Angok Anyang and Buggage cut the deficit to three points, 34-31. KWU's Jun Murdock's basket with 34 seconds on the clock gave the Coyotes a 36-31 lead. Buggage was able to connect on a jumper in the lane right before the buzzer sounded and OU trailed 36-33 at the half.
Kansas Wesleyan opened the second half on an 18-9 run, taking a 54-42 lead over the Braves with 12:50 left in the second half. Ottawa battled and cut the double digit Coyote lead to 69-60 with 4:19 on the clock.
The Coyotes scored the next four points, taking a 73-60 lead over OU. The Braves again cut into the Kansas Wesleyan lead. Baskets by Amil Field,
Jayden Hibbitt, and Karmen Woods cut the deficit to four points, 73-69, with 48 seconds on the clock.
After a time out by the Braves, Kansas Wesleyan was able to execute offensively, taking a 75-69 lead. Ottawa had two looks at the basket on its next trip down the floor but missed both shots and KWU rebounded the ball with 26 seconds on the clock.
Ottawa fouled, sending Alex Littlejohn to the free throw line. He missed his free throw attempt and Fields rebounded the miss. A 3-pt field goal attempt by Buggage was no good and KWU snagged the round.
The Braves forced a KWU turnover with 11 seconds on the clock and Buggage pushed the ball up the floor but OU was not able to score the basketball and KWU took the 75-69 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Ottawa shot 39.2 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 50 percent from the free throw line.
- OU had three players in double figures led by Deondre Buggage's 21 points. He had three assists.
- Jayden Hibbitt finished the game with 14 points and was one rebound away from a double-double, finishing with nine rebounds. He also had three steals.
- Amil Fields came off the bench to score 12 points.
- Angok Anyang led OU with 13 rebounds. He had two assists, two blocks, and two steals.
The Braves finish the season with an overall record of 16-13 and a seventh place finish in the KCAC with a mark of 11-11.
