The Braves fell to 1-1 on the season with an 89-79 loss to no. 19 Baker University in Wilson Field House on Monday night. Ottawa shot 38 percent from the floor, 21.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 82.6 percent from the free throw line. The Braves led 19-18 in points off turnovers. Baker had a 12-8 advantage in fast break points and led 36-32 in points in the paint, 16-13 in second-chance points, and 17-5 in bench scoring.
In the loss to Baker, OU had four players in double figures led by Jayden Hibbitt’s 21 points. He finished the game with a double-double, pulling down 11 rebounds. Hibbitt also had two steals. Deondre Buggage finished the game with 19 points and three assists. Keith Robinson and Najee Jones had 15 points apiece. Jones had three assists and Robinson tallied eight rebounds.
Through two games this season, Ottawa is averaging 80.5 points, 47.5 rebounds, and 15.0 assists per game. OU is shooting 39.1 percent from the floor, 20 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 78.8 percent from the free throw line.
OU is ranked 37th in the NAIA in points (161), 34th in field goals attempted per game (69), 22nd in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (30), 20th in free throws made per game (20.5), 23rd in free throws attempted per game (26), 30th in free throw percentage (.788), 28th in offensive rebounds per game (15.5), 16th in defensive rebounds per game (32), 19th in total rebounds per game (47.5), 43rd in opponent assists per game (10.5), 37th in turnovers per game (12), 30th in opponent steals per game (6), 30th in opponent personal fouls per game (20), 50th in points allowed per game (70.5), 22nd in opponent field goal percentage (.372), 32nd in opponent free throw percentage (.372), 32nd in opponent free throws attempted (23.9), 41st in field goal total-attempts (54-138), 47th in 3-pt field goals total-attempts (12-60), 11th in free throw total-attempts (41-52).
Keith Robinson leads the Braves in scoring (19.5). Robinson and Jayden Hibbitt are OU’s leaders in rebounds per game (8.5). Najee Jones is the Braves’ leader in assists (5) and steals (4) per game, and Alex Riddick leads the team in blocks per game (2).
Friday night is the fourth meeting between Ottawa University and Calvary University. OU is 3-0 all-time against the Warriors. The last time the two teams played was on Nov. 13, 2021 in Wilson Field House. OU won the game, 106-61. The first game between OU and CU was on Dec. 15, 1978 in Wilson Field House. The Braves won the game, 81-63.
Saturday’s game between Ottawa University and Kansas Christian College is the sixth time that the two teams have played against each other. Ottawa leads the series, 5-0. The Braves won last season’s game on Oct. 27 in Wilson Field House, 103-91. The first meeting between the two teams happened on Nov. 9, 2019 in Wilson Field House. OU won the game, 89-65.
Calvary University is 0-1 to start 2024-25. The Warriors were defeated 104-54 by York University last Thursday night at the Freeman Center. Nathan Ulrichs led CU in scoring with nine points. Jaylon Armstrong had a team high five rebounds.
Kansas Christian College is 0-2 to start the 2024-25 season. The Falcons enter Friday night’s game coming off an 89-75 loss to Avila University on Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo.
KCC is averaging 80 points, 41 rebounds, and 11.5 assists per game. The Falcons are shooting 43.2 percent from the flo 25.9 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 54.1 percent from the free throw line.
The Falcons have three players scoring in double figures, led by James Lewis averaging 17.5 points per game. Isaac Lane is averaging 16.5 points per game and Kaiden Hunter is averaging 10 points per game. Lane leads KCC in rebounding, averaging 11 rebounds per game.
Kansas Christian finished the 2023-24 season ranked sixth in the NCCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Poll.
