The Braves are 10-13 overall and 6-11 in the KCAC. Ottawa is on a three game losing streak and has a record of 3-8 at home this season. OU has lost three straight at home with its last win inside of Wilson Field House coming on Jan. 10 against Tabor College, 85-80.
Ottawa is averaging 78.6 points, 35.8 rebounds, and 12 assists per game this season. OU is shooting 45.5 percent from the floor, 33.9 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 74.2 percent from the free throw line.
Micah Willis leads the team in scoring (13) per game,
Jackson Harding is OU's leader in rebounds (6.1) per game,
Landyn Tyler leads the Braves in assists (3.1) per game,
Kuol Reech is Ottawa's leader in blocks (0.4) per game, and
Rich Martelly is the team's leader in steals (1.6) per game.
The Braves are ranked 35th in the NAIA in free throws made per game (16.3), 42nd in free throw percentage (.742), and 37th in personal fouls per game (15.5).
In home games this season, the Braves are averaging 75.6 points per game while allowing 80.6. OU is shooting 44.4 percent from the floor, 34.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 74.7 percent from the free throw line inside of Wilson Field House this season. Opponents are shooting 47.6 percent from the floor, 37.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 81.7 percent from the free throw line.
Ottawa has five players scoring in double figures at home this season:
Landyn Tyler (13.3),
Rich Martelly (12.2),
Jackson Esary (11),
Micah Willis (10.3), and
Jackson Harding (10). Inside of Wilson Field House, Tyler is shooting 50.5 percent from the floor and 50 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
In 10 wins this season, the Braves are scoring 86.4 points per game and shooting 47.8 percent from the floor, 38.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 75.3 percent from the free throw line. In their 13 losses, they are scoring 72.5 points per game and shooting 43.7 percent from the floor, 30 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 73.1 percent from the free throw line.
Saturday is the 151st game between Ottawa University and Friends University. Ottawa leads the series, 88-62 and are 3-2 in the last five games against the Falcons. Friends won the first meeting this season on Jan. 3 in Wichita, Kan., 84-75. Last year in Wilson Field House on Jan. 4, Friends defeated the Braves 110-88. The first game between the two teams happened in 1910. Ottawa won the game 28-26.
In the 84-75 loss to, then, no. 14 Friends at the Garvey Center in Wichita, Kan. on Jan. 3, the Braves mounted their strongest surge in the final 10 minutes.
Landyn Tyler sparked a run with hustle plays on both ends, and Ottawa tied the game at 61–61 with 8:51 remaining following a
Cameron Lawson basket off a turnover. Ottawa tied the score two more times, including at 70–70 on a
Micah Willis three-pointer with 4:54 left. Each time, Friends responded with timely shooting, including back-to-back threes and strong finishes in the paint down the stretch. Ottawa continued to battle inside, but Friends closed the game at the free throw line and with late buckets to secure the win, 84-75. Willis led OU with 22 points, Tyler had 14 points and five assists, and
Elijah Mason scored 12 points and had seven rebounds.
Friends University has an overall record of 18-5, are third in the KCAC with a mark of 13-4, and are ranked no. 17 in the NAIA Poll. The Falcons are on a two game winning streak and have a mark of 8-3 on the road this season.
The Falcons enter Saturday's game coming off a 98-78 victory over Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. on Wednesday night.
Through 23 games this season, Friends is averaging 85.3 points, 35.5 rebounds, and 19.2 assists per game. The Falcons are shooting 48.4 percent from the floor, 36.9 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 71 percent from the free throw line.
Friends is ranked 23rd in the NAIA in points (1,963), 28th in points per game (85.3), 24th in field goals made per game (31.1), 45th in field goals attempted per game (64.3), 41st in field goal percentage (48.4), 10th in 3-pt field goals made per game (10.3), 16th in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (27.9), 32nd in 3-pt field goal percentage (.369), fifth in assists per game (19.2), 11th in turnovers per game (10.3), 36th in steals per game (8.9), 50th in opponent turnovers per game (14.5), 37th in opponent steals per game (6.1), 22nd in personal fouls per game (15), and 10th in offensive efficiency (1.182).
Cahlese Lee leads Friends in scoring (16.3) per game and Ringo Deng is the Falcons' leader in rebounds (5.7) per game. Randy Woolf, Jr. is the team's leader in assists (4.2) per game and blocks (0.5) per game. Eli Benning leads the Falcons i steals (2.4) per game.
In 11 road games this season, Friends is averaging 81.9 points per game and shooting 46.8 percent from the floor, 36.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 72.5 percent from the free throw line.
