The Braves are 18-10 overall and finished the season fifth in the KCAC with a mark of 14-8. Ottawa has a road record of 9-4.
Ottawa enters Wednesday's game coming off an 84-82 victory over Kansas Wesleyan University last Saturday night. This is the first time since the 2019-20 season that OU took the season series from KWU. Ottawa shot 43.5 percent from the floor, 21.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 75 percent from the free throw line. OU had three players in double figures led by
Najee Jones 22 points. He led the Braves with nine rebounds.
Jayden Hibbitt scored 20 points and
Keith Robinson finished the game with 14 points.
Landyn Tyler led OU with three assists.
This season, OU is averaging 82.3 points, 40.1 rebounds, and 15.1 assists per game. They are shooting 45.4 percent from the floor, 32.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 77.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
The Braves are ranked 39th in the NAIA in total points (2,305), 49th in points per game (82.3), 36th in field goals made per game (30.6), 11th in field goals attempted per game (67.5), 16th in free throw percentage (.771), 46th in offensive rebounds per game (11.8), 19th in defensive rebounds per game (28.3), and 19th in total rebounds per game (40.1).
Jayden Hibbitt leads OU in scoring (17.0),
Keith Robinson is Ottawa's leader in rebounding (8.1),
Najee Jones leads the Braves in assists (3.2) per game,
Alex Riddick is the team's leader in blocks (0.8) per game, and Jones leads Ottawa in steals (1.7) per game.
In road games this season, Ottawa is averaging 78.9 points per game, shooting 45.8 percent from the floor, and 33.9 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Opponents are scoring 76.4 points per game, shooting 44.3 percent from the floor, and 33.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
The Braves have a record of 25-25 all-time in the KCAC Tournament. The first year of the KCAC Tournament was in 1993-94. OU has won the KCAC Tournament championship in 1994-95, 2001-02, and 2008-09. This season marks the Braves' 27th appearance in the KCAC Tournament
Wednesday is the 158th game between Ottawa University and Bethel College. The Braves lead the series against the Threshers 98-59 but Bethel is on a two game winning streak against the Braves, taking the season series. Bethel defeated OU 95-75 in North Newton on Jan. 18 and 82-76 in Wilson Field House on Feb. 15. Prior to that loss in Thresher Gymnasium on Jan. 18, Ottawa had won three straight games in North Newton. The first ever game between the two teams happened on Feb. 13, 1924 in North Newton. Bethel won the game 42-21. Ottawa and Bethel have played each other three times in the KCAC Tournament. OU has a record of 2-1 against Bethel. OU has won two straight versus BC in KCAC Tournament play. This will be the first time since Feb. 25, 1999 that the two teams have met in North Newton. Bethel won the game 54-52. The last time the two teams played against each other in the KCAC Tournament was on Feb. 28, 2008 in Wilson Field House. OU won the game 92-74. KCAC Tournament Games: Feb. 28, 2008 (H) W, 92-74 | Feb. 21, 2001 (H) W, 65-55 | Feb. 25, 1999 (A) L, 54-52.
In OU's 82-76 loss to Bethel in Wilson Field House on Feb. 15, Ottawa shot 40.8 percent from the floor, 29.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 71.4 percent from the free throw line. OU had five players in double figures, led by
Jayden Hibbitt's double-double. He scored 18 points and pulled down 18 rebounds.
Najee Jones scored 17 points,
Deondre Buggage and
Keith Robinson had 11 points apiece, and PJ Two scored 10 points. Jones led OU with four assists.
Bethel College has an overall record of 20-8, finished fourth in the KCAC with a record of 16-6, is on a three game winning streak, and has a mark of 9-4 at home this season. Bethel enters Wednesday's night game coming off a 95-71 road victory over York University last Saturday.
The Threshers are averaging 81 points per game, 35.9 rebounds per game, and 15.4 assists per game. Bethel is shooting 47.5 percent from the floor, 38.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 70.3 percent from the free throw line.
Carmelo Yakubu leads Bethel in scoring (15.5), rebounding (7.1), and assists (3.8). Nick Bonner leads the Threshers in steals (1.7) and Cade Kittrell is BC's leader in blocks (0.8) per game.
Bethel is ranked 49th in the NAIA in points, 34th in 3-pt field goals made per game (9.2), 17th in 3-pt field goal percentage (.381), and 49th in opponent field goal percentage (.427).
