Ottawa is 17-8 overall and 13-6 in the KCAC. OU is tied for third in the KCAC with Bethel College and the University of Saint Mary. The Braves play USM in Wilson Field House on Wednesday, Feb. 19
The Braves fell to KCAC leader (RV) Oklahoma Wesleyan University, 83-76, on Thursday night at the Mueller Sports Complex. In the loss to the Eagles, Ottawa shot 46.3 percent from the floor, 36 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 71.4 percent from the free throw line. OU had three players in double figures led by
Jayden Hibbitt's 17 points. He also had eight rebounds.
Landyn Tyler scored 14 points and
Najee Jones finished the game with 13 points. Jones had four assists and four steals.
Deondre Buggage led OU with six assists.
This season, Ottawa is averaging 82.8 points, 40 rebounds, and 15.7 assists per game. OU is shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, 33.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 77.1 percent from the free throw line.
OU is ranked 38th in the NAIA in total points (2,071), 45th in points per game (82.8), 23rd in field goals made per game (31.2), 12th in field goals attempted per game (67.5), 10th in free throw percentage (.771), 18th in defensive rebounds per game (28.3), 20th in total rebounds per game (40.0), 44th in assists per game (15.7), and 23rd in total field goals attempted (1,687).
Jayden Hibbitt scored his 1,000th point in an OU uniform in OU's loss to Oklahoma Wesleyan University on Thursday night. He is the 28th OU men's basketball player to score 1,000 or more points in an OU uniform. He is the second Brave to accomplish that feat this season, joining teammate
Deondre Buggage.
Jayden Hibbitt leads OU in scoring (17),
Keith Robinson is Ottawa's leader in rebounding (8.4),
Deondre Buggage and
Najee Jones lead the team in assists (3.2) per game,
Alex Riddick and Robinson are the Braves' leaders in blocked shots (0.8) per game, and Jones is Ottawa's leader in steals (1.7) per game.
Its been 14 days since Ottawa has played at home. The Braves are 9-4 in Wilson Field House this season and 6-3 in KCAC play. OU is scoring 86.8 points per game, shotting 46.3 percent from the floor, and 32.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Opponents are scoring 75 points per game, shooting 42.4 percent from the floor, and 32 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
The Braves have scored over 2,000 points for the second consecutive season with a total of 2,071 points this season which is 38th in the NAIA. Ottawa's 82.8 points per game average is right now fifth all-time in the OU record book and is ranked 45th in the NAIA. The most points scored in a season was 2,910 points during the 2019-20 season. That team qualified for the NAIA Men's Basketball Division II National Tournament, making it to the round of 16.
Ottawa has improved its scoring output from the month of January. The Braves were scoring 79.6 points per game in January. OU is now scoring 85.8 points per game in the month of February.
In OU's losses this season the Braves are scoring 76.4 points per game, shooting 43.9 percent from the floor, and 29.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line. In their wins, OU is scoring 85.9 points per game, shooting 47.3 percent from the floor, and 35.9 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
Saturday is the 157th meeting between Ottawa University and Bethel College. Ottawa leads the series 98-58 and is 3-2 in its last five games against the Threshers. Bethel won the first meeting this season, 95-75, in North Newton on Jan. 18. The first ever game between the two teams was on Feb. 13, 1924 in North Newton, Kan. Bethel won the game, 42-21. The Braves won the last time the two teams played in Wilson Field House (Nov. 29, 2023), 90-84.
Bethel College is 17-8 overall and 13-6 in the KCAC. The Threshers enter Saturday's match coming off a 71-70 loss to Kansas Wesleyan University in Thresher Gymnasium on Thursday. BC has a record of 8-4 on the road this season.
This season, BC is averaging 80 points, 35.4 rebounds and 15.1 assists per game. They are shooting 47.5 percent from the floor, 37.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 69.1 percent from the free throw line.
The Threshers are led in scoring (15.8), rebounding (7), and assists (3.7) by Carmelo Yakubu. Cade Kittrell is Bethel's leader in blocks (0.9) per game and Nick Bonner leads the Threshers in steals (1.7) per game.
Bethel is ranked 45th in the NAIA in 3-pt field goals made per game (8.8) and 21st in 3-pt field goal percentage (.378).
In their wins this season, the Threshers are scoring 82.9 points per game, shooting 49.1 percent from the floor, and 37.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line. In their losses, they are scoring 73.9 points per game, shooting 43.9 percent from the floor, and 39.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
