Wildcats Edged at the Buzzer in OT Heartbreaker to Ottawa

BALDWIN CITY - Baker men's basketball came up just short in a heartbreaking overtime loss Monday night, falling 82-81 to Ottawa inside the Collins Center after the Braves converted a three-point play in the closing seconds.

The Wildcats held a 35-30 lead at halftime and led by as many as 10 midway through the second half before Ottawa clawed its way back to take a narrow lead in the final seconds of regulation. With Baker trailing 74-71, Mo Niang buried a three-pointer in the corner off of a sideline play with five seconds left to force overtime and send the home crowd into a roar.

In the extra period, Baker shot out of the gate with seven unanswered points to take an 81-74 lead, but Ottawa responded with an 8-0 run, including the game-winning free throw, and held BU scoreless over the final three minutes to steal the victory.

Both teams shot around 40 percent from the floor, with Baker shooting a tick higher at 29-for-73, while OU went 26-for-66. The Braves narrowly won the rebounding battle, 49-47, and made up the difference at the charity stripe, getting to the line a total of 37 times compared to 27 for BU. The Wildcats missed some key free throws late, finishing 18-for-27. 

Niang led the Wildcats with a game-high 29 points and added six rebounds and nine free throws. Myles Tucker had 19 points, five rebounds, and two assists, while Eli Obaseki provided a spark off the bench with six points and six boards. Cam Jones chipped in seven points and six rebounds, and KJ Odour added four points and five rebounds.

Baker came out sharp on both ends, taking its first lead on a Xavier McCord layup and later breaking a 12-all tie with a quick 10-2 run fueled by inside buckets from Niang and Obaseki. The Wildcats found success pushing the pace, scoring several times in transition and closing the half on a 6-2 stretch capped by an Obaseki jumper at the horn to make it 35-30. Baker's bench outscored Ottawa 11-7 in the first half while limiting the Braves to just 33 percent shooting.

The second half featured more back-and-forth action, with Baker stretching its lead behind an early 10-2 surge before Ottawa mounted a response midway through the period. Tucker hit a clutch three and McCord converted a three-point play to help Baker regain separation, but a late Ottawa push trimmed the margin to one possession entering the final minute.

After a pair of Braves free throws made it 74-71, Niang answered with his dramatic game-tying triple to force overtime and extend the night.

The overtime contest marked BU's first of the season and just its second in the program's last 39 games after going to an extra period only one time last year.

Up next, Baker will head to the Ernie Stevens Jr. Classic, hosted by Haskell, on Friday (Nov. 7) and Sunday (Nov. 9) in Lawrence, Kan. The Wildcats will face (RV) Saint Mary on Friday at 5:30 p.m. before taking on Haskell on Sunday at 4 p.m.

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