The Braves had their three game winning streak broken with an 88-79 non-conference loss to Columbia College on Dec. 18 in Columbia, Mo. Ottawa shot 45.8 percent from the floor, 22.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 70 percent from the free throw line.
Ottawa is 10-3 through its first 13 games of the season. The Braves are off to its best start since the 2019-20 season when OU was 11-2 through 13 games. OU is 6-1 in KCAC play and its off to its best start in the KCAC since it started 6-1 in 2019-20.
Keith Robinson leads OU in scoring (16.7) and rebounding (9.2).
Deondre Buggage is OU's leader in assists (3.2),
Alex Riddick leads the team in blocks (1.2) and
Najee Jones leads the Braves in steals (2.0) per game.
Keith Robinson has five double-doubles through 13 games this season and has three double-doubles in his last four games. He was one rebound away from his fourth straight double-double in OU's games against Columbia College on Dec. 18, finishing the game with 19 points and nine rebounds. In Robinson's last four games he is averaging 17.8 points and 11.3 rebounds. He is shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and 40 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
Deondre Buggage is scored 1,146 points in an OU uniform. That total ranks him 19th all-time on the OU record book in career scoring.
Through seven KCAC games this season, Ottawa is outscoring opponents 81-71. The Braves are shooting 45.5 percent from the floor and 34.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Ottawa has four starters scoring in double figures in KCAC play:
Jayden Hibbitt (17.6),
Keith Robinson (15.0),
Deondre Buggage (14.3), and
Najee Jones (13.6).
This season, Ottawa is averaging 83.9 points, 42.8 rebounds, and 15.3 assists per game. OU is shooting 46.6 percent from the floor, 31.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 74.4 percent from the free throw line.
Ottawa is one of the best rebounding teams in the NAIA. OU is ranked 52nd in the NAIA in offensive rebounds per game (12.2), fourth in defensive rebounds per game (30.6), and seventh in total rebounds per game (42.8).
OU is ranked 46th in the NAIA in points per game (83.9), 19th in field goals made per game (32.2), 14th in field goals attempted per game (69), fourth in defensive rebounds per game (30.6), seventh in total rebounds per game (42.8), 44th in rebound margin per game (6.0), and 50th in points allowed per game (70.3).
In Wilson Field House this season, Braves are 6-1, have a record of 3-0 in KCAC play and are 3-1 in non-conference games. Ottawa is outscoring opponents 89-66 at home this season.
Friends University head men's basketball coach, Phil McClintock played a basketball at Ottawa (2005-2009) and spent seven seasons as the Braves' associate head coach. He is a member of the Braves Athletic Hall of Fame, a two-time NAIA All-American, and is ranked fifth in the OU record book in scoring (1,644).
Saturday is the 148th meeting between Ottawa University and Friends University. OU leads the series, 87-60, and Ottawa is on a seven game winning streak against the Falcons. The last time the Braves lost to Friends was on Dec. 2, 2020 in Wichita. The Falcons won the game, 81-73. OU has won six straight games in Wilson Field House against Friends. The last time Ottawa lost to the Falcons at home was on Jan. 10, 2018. The Falcons won the game, 91-73. The first ever meeting between Ottawa and Friends happened in 1910. OU won the game 28-26.
Friends has an overall record of 9-4 and a KCAC mark of 5-2. The Falcons' nine wins equals its win total from 2023-24. Friends is off to its best start since the 2018-19 season when the Falcons were 9-4 through their first 13 games. The Falcons snapped their two game losing streak on Dec. 31 with an 88-56 win over Hastings College. Friends has a road record of 4-2.
The Falcons are ranked 42nd in the NAIA in field goal percentage (.485), 49th in 3-pt field goals made per game (8.8), 50th in free throws made per game (15.5), 30th in opponent rebounds per game (31.1), 26th in rebound margin per game (7.3), 28th in assists per game (16.8), and 32nd in turnovers per game (10.8).
KJ Spiller leads Friends in scoring (15.9) and rebounding (6.8). Randy Woolf, Jr. is the team's leader in assists (3.5). Ring Deng is the Falcons' leader in blocks (0.5) and steals (1.5).
Friends is averaging 83.4 points, 38.4 rebounds, and 16.8 assists per game. They are shooting 48.5 percent from the floor, 35.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 73.4 percent from the free throw line.
In road games, the Falcons are scoring 72.2 points and shooting 46.4 percent from the floor and 29.9 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
Friends is scoring 90.4 points per game in their nine wins and shooting 52.6 percent from the floor. In their four losses, they are scoring 67.5 points per game and shooting 39 percent from the floor.
