HILLSBORO, Kan. — The Ottawa University men's basketball team downed Tabor College 91–82 on Wednesday evening in Tabor Gymnasium.
First Half
Ottawa exploded out of the gate with sharp shooting from deep, led by
Micah Willis, who buried three early three-pointers to help push the Braves to an 11–4 advantage.
Landyn Tyler and
Elijah Mason attacked the paint effectively, while
Aaron Lewis added a spark off the bench with five quick points, including a three at the 14:54 mark to extend the Braves' lead to 16–8.
Tabor responded with a steady run, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and turnovers. A late surge—including a layup by Marque Wilkerson and a transition finish from Niieihii Blackbear—gave the Bluejays a 45–42 lead heading into halftime.
Second Half
Ottawa seized momentum early in the second period when Mason opened the half with a jumper, followed shortly after by finishes from Mason and
Rich Martelly that tied the game at 48–48. Tabor momentarily regained control with back-to-back threes from Brayden West-Linnett, building a 56–51 lead.
The Braves answered with their best offensive stretch of the night. Tyler and Martelly combined for a series of buckets around the rim, and a clutch three from
Elijah Mason at the 8:57 mark tied the game at 70–70. From there, Ottawa took complete command.
A defensive steal by Martelly led to a layup with 5:15 remaining, pushing the advantage to 80–72. Ottawa's defense tightened, forcing multiple Tabor turnovers, and the Braves sealed the win at the free-throw line as Tyler, Reech, and Mason each converted key attempts in the final minute. Ottawa outscored Tabor 49–37 in the second half.
Ottawa Statistical Leaders
- Landyn Tyler: 24 points (8–13 FG), 8–9 FT, 4 assists
- Elijah Mason: 15 points, 9 rebounds, strong interior presence
- Micah Willis: 17 points, 4–7 from three, 2 assists
- Rich Martelly: 12 points, 2 assists, 3 steals
- Kuol Reech: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Ottawa shot an impressive 51.7% from the field, including 47.4% from three, and forced 18 Tabor turnovers, converting them into 28 points.
Who is Next
Ottawa (5-2, 2-0) returns to the court on Saturday, Nov. 22 in Wilson Field House against McPherson College. Tip off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.