MCPHERSON, Kan. — Ottawa University men's basketball went shot-for-shot with McPherson College and traded leads deep into the second half — but a late McPherson run proved decisive as the Braves fell 93–86 Saturday afternoon at Holman Fieldhouse.
First Half
McPherson jumped out early behind fast-break opportunities and strong interior play, building its largest lead of the half at 11 points (39–28) with 5:35 remaining. Ottawa responded with a steady offensive stretch late in the period, highlighted by buckets from
Jackson Esary and
Elijah Mason, trimming the margin to six.
Esary capped the first-half surge with a three-pointer in the final minute, but McPherson answered at the buzzer to take a 46–40 lead into the break.
Second Half
Ottawa came out aggressive after halftime, slowly chipping away at the deficit. A three-pointer from Esary at the 15:18 mark tied the game at 56, sparking a back-and-forth stretch that featured seven ties and eight lead changes in the period.
The Braves grabbed their largest lead of the game (64–60) with 12:38 to play following a layup by
Landyn Tyler, but McPherson answered on the next possession and never trailed by more than four the rest of the way.
Ottawa remained within one possession multiple times late, including a three from Esary that gave the Braves a brief 79–78 edge with 4:12 remaining. McPherson responded with a decisive 12–7 run over the final four minutes, closing the game at the free-throw line to seal the 93–86 result.
Game Notes & Stats
- Jackson Esary led Ottawa with 24 points, shooting 4-of-5 from three-point range.
- Jackson Harding added 19 points and a team-high 9 rebounds.
- Elijah Mason finished with 15 points and a game-high 5 assists.
- Ottawa shot 50.0% (33-of-66) from the field and 75.0% (15-of-20) at the free-throw line.
- The Braves held a 38–31 rebounding advantage, including 16 offensive boards.
- McPherson was led by Korbin Gunn's 30 points, including 10-of-16 at the free-throw line.
- The game featured 11 ties and nine lead changes, underscoring the tightly contested nature of the matchup.
Who is Next
Ottawa (10-12, 6-10) returns to the court on Wednesday, February 4 in Wilson Field House against Avila University. The Braves and Eagles will tip at 5:30 p.m.
