Ottawa fell 89-74 to Oklahoma Wesleyan University on Wednesday evening in Wilson Field House. The Braves shot 38.7 percent from the floor, 26.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 85.7 percent from the free throw line.
Najee Jones was one rebound away from a double-double. He led OU in scoring with 29 points. Jones had four assists, one block, and one steal.
Keith Robinson was the other Brave in double figures. He recorded his seventh double-double of the season, his second straight, with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
OU is averaging 83.5 points, 41.8 rebounds, and 15.2 assists per game. The Braves are shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, 31.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 74.8 percent from the free throw line.
Jayden Hibbitt leads the Braves in scoring (17.3),
Keith Robinson is OU's leader in rebounding (9.1),
Najee Jones leads Ottawa in assists (3.2),
Alex Riddick is the team's leader in blocks (1), and Jones leads OU in steals (1.9) per game.
Ottawa is ranked 46th in the NAIA in points per game (83.5), 15th in field goals made per game (31.7), ninth in field goals attempted per game (68.6), 44th in free throw percentage (.748), 46th in offensive rebounds per game (12.2), 10th in defensive rebounds per game (29.5), 10th in total rebounds per game (41.8), and 43rd in rebound margin per game (5.5).
The Braves have a road mark of 5-2 and are 4-1 in the KCAC away from Wilson Field House. OU is scoring 80 points per game and shooting 48.1 percent from the floor. Opponents are scoring 74.3 points per game and shooting 35.7 percent from the floor.
OU has four players scoring in double figures in road games this season:
Jayden Hibbitt (17.1),
Deondre Buggage (16.6),
Keith Robinson (16.1), and
Najee Jones (12.3).
In their 12 wins, the Braves are scoring 86.8 points per game and shooting 48 percent from the floor. In OU's five losses, Ottawa is scoring 75.6 points and shooting 42 percent from the floor.
Saturday is the 156th game between Ottawa University and Bethel College. OU leads the series, 98-57, and has won three straight against the Threshers. The last time Ottawa lost to Bethel was on Dec. 1, 2022 in Wilson Field House. Bethel won in double overtime, 94-91. The Braves have won three straight against Bethel in Thresher Gymnasium. The last time Ottawa lost in North Newton was on Dec. 5, 2020. Bethel won the game 90-78. The first ever meeting between the two teams happened on Feb. 13, 1924 in North Newton. Bethel won the game 42-21. Ottawa won both games last season, defeating Bethel 90-84 in Wilson Field House on Nov. 29, 2023 and 83-75 in North Newton on Feb. 3, 2024.
Bethel College has an overall record of 11-6, a KCAC mark of 7-4, and a home record of 4-3. The Threshers have won four straight games with victories over Avila University (78-65), Kansas Wesleyan University (74-71), University of Saint Mary (75-57), and Tabor College (81-47).
The Threshers are averaging 79.1 points, 36.4 rebounds, and 14.6 assists per game. BC is shooting 47 percent from the floor, 36 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 67.7 percent from the free throw line.
BC is ranked 34th in the NAIA in opponent offensive rebounds per game (8.6) and 46th in opponent total rebounds per game (32.4).
Carmelo Yakubu leads Bethel in scoring (15.5), rebounding (8.4), and assists (3.8). Nick Bonner is BC's leader in steals (1.6) per game and Cade Kittrell is the team's leader in blocks (1.1) per game.
In Bethel's seven home games, the Threshers are scoring 79.4 points per game and shooting 46.2 percent from the floor.
In their 11 wins, BC is scoring 81.9 points per game and shooting 48.3 percent from the floor. In their six losses, the Threshers are scoring 73.8 points per game and shooting 44.7 percent from the floor.
