Ottawa has lost two straight with a 110-88 loss to Friends University last Saturday in Wilson Field House. OU shot 50 percent from the floor, 38.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 75 percent from the free throw line.
The Braves are averaging 84.2 points, 41.9 rebounds, and 16 assists per game. OU is shooting 46.9 percent from the floor, 31.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 74.4 percent from the free throw line.
Jayden Hibbitt leads the Braves in scoring (17.2),
Keith Robinson is OU's leader in rebounding (8.9), and
Najee Jones leads Ottawa in assists (3.2) and steals (1.8) per game.
Alex Riddick leads the team in blocks (1.1) per game.
OU is ranked 37th in the NAIA in points per game (84.2), 12th in field goals made per game (32.5), seventh in field goals attempted per game (69.4), 49th in free throw percentage (.744), 46th in offensive rebounds per game (12.3), 12th in defensive rebounds per game (29.6), 13th in total rebounds per game (41.9), 46th in rebound margin per game (5.4), 45th in assists per game (16), 31st in opponent field goal percentage (.410), and 35th in opponent free throw attempts per game (30.4).
Ottawa is 6-2 in the KCAC. The Braves are averaging 81.6 points per game and shooting 46.1 percent from the floor. Opponents are scoring 75.5 points per game and shooting 41.9 percent from the floor.
The Braves have four players averaging in double figures in KCAC play:
Jayden Hibbitt (18.8),
Keith Robinson (15.1),
Najee Jones (14.1), and
Deondre Buggage (12.8). Robinson is averaging a double-double in conference play, averaging 10.1 rebounds per game.
OU is 4-2 on the road this season, averaging 78.5 points per game and shooting 47.8 percent from the floor. Opponents are scoring 75.7 points and shooting 41.9 percent from the floor.
Saturday is the 95th game between Ottawa University and Tabor College. The Bluejays lead the series, 54-40, and the Braves won the first meeting this season 101-66 in Wilson Field House on Nov. 20. Ottawa has a record of 8-2 against Tabor in the last 10 games. Tabor won the last game in Tabor Gymnasium, 76-73 on Jan. 17, 2024. Prior to that, Ottawa had won four straight games in Hillsboro against the Bluejays. The first ever meeting between the two teams was on Dec. 10, 1968 in Hillsboro. Ottawa won the game, 86-77.
In the first meeting this season, a 101-66 victory for the Braves in Wilson Field House on Nov. 20, Ottawa shot 45 percent from the floor, 40.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 76.2 percent from the free throw line. The Braves have five players in double figures led by
Jayden Hibbitt's 23 points.
Najee Jones finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
Deondre Buggage scored 14 points. Hibbitt and Buggage led OU with three steals apiece.
PJ Twa finished the game with 11 points.
Keith Robinson recorded his second straight double-double, finishing with 13 points and 14 rebounds. He also had two steals, two blocks, and two assists.
Tabor College is 2-12 overall and 1-8 in the KCAC. The Bluejays are on a two game losing streak and have a record of 1-4 in Tabor Gymnasium this season. After defeating Cal Maritime, 92-91 on Dec. 21, the Bluejays have lost two straight with losses to Kansas Wesleyan University (94-66) on Jan. 3 and Bethany College (89-78) on Jan. 8.
The Bluejays are averaging 69.6 points, 34.3 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game. Tabor is shooting 38.6 percent from the floor, 32.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 75.8 percent from the floor.
Tabor is ranked 42nd in the NAIA in field goals attempted per game (65.5), and 30th in free throw percentage (.758).
Kalep Crane leads Tabor in scoring (21.5), Kam Kaniper is TC's leader in rebounding (5.1), Zach Hiebert and Crane is the team's leader in assists (2.0), Batosse Gado is Tabor's leader in blocks (1.3), and Crane leads the Bluejays in steals (1.1) per game.
In Tabor's five home games this season, the Bluejays are scoring 68.8 points per game and shooting 36.5 percent from the floor.
In their two wins, Tabor is scoring 85.5 points and shooting 42.7 percent from the floor. In their 12 losses, the Bluejays are shooting 37.8 percent from the floor and scoring 66.9 points per game.
