HILLSBORO, Kan. – The Ottawa University men's basketball team opened KCAC play with a thrilling 92-89 overtime victory over Tabor College on Saturday evening at Tabor College Gymnasium.
Micah Willis led Ottawa with 18 points, while
Jackson Harding added 16.
Seb Khan recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and
Jayven Price and
Josiah Pattinson contributed 14 points apiece.
Ottawa took a nine-point lead into halftime, 47-38, before Tabor rallied with 42 second-half points to force overtime. The Braves responded by outscoring the Bluejays 12-9 in the extra period to secure the conference-opening victory.
First Half
Tabor opened the contest with an early 6-2 advantage, but Ottawa responded behind a 3-pointer from Willis and a basket by
Aiden Olmstead to take a 9-8 lead. The teams traded baskets throughout the opening 10 minutes, with neither side able to establish a significant advantage.
Trailing 23-19, Ottawa battled back with a basket from
Heustin Stroops and two free throws from Willis to tie the contest at 25-25. Harding later connected from beyond the arc to even the score at 28-28 with 6:48 remaining.
The Braves began to take control in the final five minutes of the half. Two free throws from Pattinson gave Ottawa a 34-32 advantage, and Price followed with a layup and a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 39-34.
Khan and Pattinson continued the offensive surge, helping Ottawa build a 43-34 lead with just over two minutes remaining. Pattinson capped the half with a 3-pointer at the 45-second mark, sending the Braves into the locker room with a 47-38 advantage.
Ottawa shot 50 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from beyond the arc during the opening 20 minutes.
Second Half
Willis opened the second half with a 3-pointer to push Ottawa's advantage to 50-38. However, Tabor began cutting into the Braves' lead, using baskets from Jackson Baer and Daniel Henderson to make it a four-point contest, 54-50.
Ottawa maintained its advantage behind contributions from Price, Harding, and Olmstead. With the Bluejays closing to within one point at 58-57, Olmstead knocked down two free throws to give the Braves a 60-57 lead.
Willis then provided an offensive spark, converting a three-point play and connecting on a 3-pointer to extend Ottawa's advantage to 68-59 with 7:49 remaining. A layup by Khan pushed the Braves' lead to 70-59.
Tabor responded with a 14-3 run, tying the contest at 73-73 on a 3-pointer from Baer with 2:36 remaining.
The Bluejays eventually took an 80-77 lead with 14 seconds remaining, but Ottawa refused to go away. After
Aries Hull made one of two free throws, Price delivered a clutch jumper with three seconds left to tie the contest at 80-80 and force overtime.
Overtime
Price continued his late-game heroics by opening overtime with a layup and a free throw to give Ottawa an 83-80 advantage. After Tabor cut the lead to one, Harding knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:33 remaining to put the Braves ahead 86-82.
Khan stepped up at the free-throw line, making four consecutive attempts to help Ottawa maintain a 90-86 lead with 1:16 remaining.
Tabor's Mark Povse connected on a 3-pointer to make it a one-point contest, 90-89, with 1:02 left. The Braves came up with a defensive stop, and Pattinson secured a crucial offensive rebound following a missed shot with six seconds remaining.
Pattinson was fouled with three seconds left and calmly knocked down both free throws to extend Ottawa's lead to 92-89. Tabor's final 3-point attempt missed as the Braves held on for the overtime victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Micah Willis led Ottawa with 18 points, shooting 5-for-12 from the field, 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
- Jackson Harding finished with 16 points, five rebounds, two steals, and one assist. He was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
- Seb Khan recorded a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. He also led Ottawa with four assists and was 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
- Jayven Price scored 14 points off the bench, adding four rebounds, three steals, and two assists. His basket with three seconds remaining in regulation forced overtime.
- Josiah Pattinson contributed 14 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot. He made five of his six free-throw attempts.
- Aiden Olmstead finished with six points, six rebounds, and one blocked shot.
- Aries Hull added five points and three rebounds.
- Landon Braun scored three points and grabbed three rebounds.
- Heustin Stroops contributed two points.
- Ottawa shot 37.1 percent (26-for-70) from the field, 31.8 percent (7-for-22) from beyond the arc, and 82.5 percent (33-for-40) from the free-throw line.
- The Braves outrebounded Tabor 37-34 and held a 22-2 advantage in second-chance points.
- Ottawa's bench outscored Tabor's reserves 49-21.
- The Braves committed just 10 turnovers while forcing 15 by the Bluejays.
- Ottawa scored 32 points in the paint and 11 points off turnovers.
- Tabor was led by Daniel Henderson with 22 points, followed by Jackson Baer with 19 points. Mark Povse and Khalil Allen each added 14.
Who is Next
Ottawa (4-2, 1-0) returns to the court on Wednesday, Nov. 18 against Evangel University in Springfield, Mo. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
