OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University men's basketball team defeated Friends University, 86-73, on Wednesday night in Wilson Field House.

Ottawa opened the game with a 15-7 lead over Friends. The Falcons put together an 8-0 run and tied the contest at 15 all at the 13:26 mark in the first half.

OU retook the lead and after a 3-pt field goal by Ricardo Zambrano, led 20-16. The Falcons responded with a 13-6 run, taking a 29-26 lead over OU with 7:38 remaining in the half.

Friends continued to hold its lead and increased it to eight points, 38-30. The Braves cut the Falcon lead to 38-34 on a Zambrano three with 1:17 on the clock. Friends scored the next basket to take a 40-34 lead over OU but two Deondre Buggage free throws with 0.8 seconds on the clock put OU within four, 40-36, at the half.

An 8-3 run to open the second half gave the Braves a 44-43 lead. The teams exchanged baskets and OU had a 56-54 lead on a Buggage three with 9:56 left in the contest.

Ottawa was able to build its lead to double figures with a 15-7 run and led 71-61 after a 3-pt field goal by Payton Kaiser. The Falcons cut OU's lead to 71-64 but the Braves pushed their lead back to double digits after four straight points by Jayden Hibbitt, 79-67.

Friends started to foul, sending OU to the free throw line. OU was 7-for-8 from the line in the final minute of the game, taking the 86-73 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• 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 finished the game with 20 points and nine rebounds.
• Angok Anyang had a double-double, his ninth of the season. He scored 12 points and had 12 rebounds.
• Payton Kaiser scored 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the floor.

Who is Next
Ottawa (14-9, 9-8) returns to the court on Saturday, February 10 against Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kan. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.