Ottawa dropped its third straight game on Thursday night, falling 80-74 to the University of Saint Mary in Wilson Field House. The loss drops the Braves to fifth in the KCAC standings. The Braves shot 31.7 percent from the floor, 23.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 80.6 percent from the free throw line. Ottawa had three players finish the game in double figures. Najee Jones and Keith Robinson had double-doubles. Jones scored 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Robinson finished the game with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jayden Hibbitt scored 13 points. Jones led OU with four assists. He had two steals.

This season, Ottawa is averaging 82.3 points, 40.1 rebounds, and 15.3 assists per game. They are shooting 45.5 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 77.2 percent from the free throw line.

OU is ranked 40th in the NAIA in total points (2,221), 48th in points per game (82.3), 35th in field goals made per game (30.7), 13th in field goals attempted per game (67.4), 13th in free throw percentage (.772), 48th in offensive rebounds per game (11.8), 17th in defensive rebounds per game (28.3), and 20th in total rebounds per game (40.1).

Jayden Hibbitt leads the Braves in scoring (16.9), Keith Robinson is OU's leader in rebounding (8.3), Najee Jones is Ottawa's leader in assists (3.2), Alex Riddick is the Braves' leader in blocks (0.8), and Jones leads the team in steals (1.7) per game.

Keith Robinson has 10 double-doubles this season, earning his first double-double in his last four games on Thursday night in OU's loss to Saint Mary. The senior forward scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

Jayden Hibbitt has scored in double figures in every game this season except for three: Jarvis Christian, Southwestern College, and Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

The Braves have a road record of 8-4 and a KCAC road mark of 7-3. OU is 3-2 in its last five road games. On the road this season, Ottawa is scoring 78.5 points, shooting 46 percent from the floor, and 35.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Opponents are scoring 75.9 points per game, shooting 44.5 percent from the floor, and 34.5 percent from the free throw line.

Ottawa has four players scoring in double figures on the road this season: Jayden Hibbitt (16.7), Najee Jones (15.8), Keith Robinson (14.2), Deondre Buggage (14.1).

Saturday is the 194th game played between Ottawa University and Kansas Wesleyan University. The Braves lead the series, 108-85, and snapped its six game losing streak to the Coyotes in Wilson Field House on Nov. 16 with a 73-65 overtime victory. That game was the sixth time that OU and KWU had played an overtime game. The two teams hold the NAIA record for NAIA Division II for overtime periods. That game on Jan. 19, 2006 in Wilson Field House went into five overtime periods and ended with a 107-106 KWU victory. The Braves have lost five straight games in Mabee Arena against the Coyotes. OU's last win in Salina was on Jan. 8, 2020. OU won the game 76-75. The first ever game between the two teams happened in 1900. Ottawa won the game, 18-8.

Kansas Wesleyan University has an overall record of 12-15 and a KCAC mark of 7-14. The Coyotes are tied for 11th in the KCAC with Avila University. KWU is 7-6 at home this season and is on a two game losing streak. Those two losses were to Southwestern College (83-82) on Feb. 15 and Bethany College (84-66) on Feb. 19.

KWU is averaging 76.2 points, 36.6 rebounds, and 13.3 assists per game. They are shooting 46 percent from the floor, 32.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 69.9 percent from the free throw line.

The Coyotes are ranked sixth in the NAIA in blocks per game (5.0).

Alex Littlejohn leads Kansas Wesleyan in scoring (19.4), rebounding (10.4), assists (3.1), and steals (1.6) per game. Evens Appolon is the team's leader in blocks (2.7) per game.

At home this season, KWU is averaging 81.7 points, shooting 49.3 percent from the floor and 33.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line.

In their wins, the Coyotes are soring 82.8 points per game, shooting 50 percent from the floor, and 37.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line. In KWU's losses, they are scoring 71 points per game, shooting 42.6 percent from the floor, and 29.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line.