The Braves were defeated 85-82 on Wednesday night by Evangel University in Wilson Field House. Ottawa shot 45.2 percent from the floor, 39.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 71.4 percent from the free throw line. Jayden Hibbitt led OU with 25 points and nine rebounds. Deondre Buggage scored 24 points and was tied for the team lead with Najee Jones in assists with four. Payton Kaiser came off the bench to score a career high 13 points.

Ottawa is averaging 82.3 points, 40.2 rebounds, and 15.4 assists per game. OU is shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, 33.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 75.6 percent from the free throw line.

OU is ranked 43rd in the NAIA in total points (1,728), 50th in points per game (82.3), 22nd in field goals made per game (32.1), 13th in field goals attempted per game (67.5), 25th in free throw percentage (.756), 46th in offensive rebounds per game (12), 22nd in defensive rebounds per game (28.2), and 19th in total rebounds per game (40.2).

Jayden Hibbitt leads OU in scoring (17.2), Keith Robinson is Ottawa's leader in rebounding (8.5), Deondre Buggage and Najee Jones lead the Braves in assists per game (3.1), Alex Riddick is OU's leader in blocks (0.9), and Jones leads the team in steals (1.8) per game.

Ottawa is 8-4 this season in Wilson Field House and are 5-3 in the KCAC at home. OU is scoring 85.7 points per game, shooting 45.6 percent from the floor, and 31.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Opponents are scoring 73 points per game, shooting 41.7 percent from the floor, and 31 percent from behind the 3-pt line.

The Braves are scoring 85.2 points per game and shooting 47.5 percent from the floor in their 14 victories. They are scoring 76.4 points and shooting 43.5 percent from the floor in their seven losses.

Saturday is the 185th game between Ottawa University and McPherson College. OU leads the series, 116-68, and is on a two game winning streak against the Bulldogs. The Braves last lost to the Bulldogs came on Dec. 9, 2023 in McPherson. MC won the game, 93-81. Ottawa has won three straight against McPherson in Wilson Field House. OU's last loss at home against McPherson came on Dec. 14, 2020. The Bulldogs won in double overtime, 103-99. Ottawa won the first meeting this season on Nov. 23 in McPherson, 85-82. The first game between the two teams happened in 1910. Ottawa won the game, 40-25.

McPherson College has an overall record of 10-11, a KCAC mark of 8-7, and has a road record of 3-7. The Bulldogs enter Saturday's game coming off a 99-60 victory over Tabor in McPherson on Wednesday night.

Curtis Rose leads the team in scoring (13.6), Collin Storr is McPherson's leader in rebounding (7.2), Rose is MC's leader in assists (3.5), Storr is the team's leader in blocks (0.6), and Rose is the Bulldogs' leader in steals (1.6) per game.

The Bulldogs are ranked 50th in the NAIA in total points (1,710), 10th in field goals attempted per game (68), 20th in free throws made per game (16.5), 47th in free throws attempted per game (21.6), 18th in free throw percentage (.764), 21st in offensive rebounds per game (13), 37th in total rebounds per game (39.1), 13th in turnovers per game (9.9), and 17th in opponent steals per game (5.5).

On the road this season, McPherson is scoring 73 points per game, shooting 38.5 percent from the floor, and 33.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line.

In the Bulldogs 10 wins, they are scoring 86.2 points per game, shooting 44.9 percent from the floor, and 33 percent from behind the 3-pt line. In their 11 losses, MC is scoring 77.1 points per game, shooting 40.2 percent from the floor, and 33.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line.