Braves Host Missouri S&T Wednesday

Bob Hunt - Photographer

Men's Basketball 11/21/2017 5:00:00 PM

Bradley (4-1) vs. Missouri S&T (1-2)
Game Details	Wednesday, Nov. 22 • 7 p.m. • Peoria, Ill. • Carver Arena
Television	ESPN3
Radio	1470 WMBD
Game Notes	Bradley \| Missouri S&T
Game Coverage	Live Stats \| Twitter: @bradleyumbb \| Instagram: @bradleyumbb
Tickets	Ticketmaster \| (309) 677-2625

After winning two games at the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase, the Bradley basketball team returns home to face Missouri S&T on Wednesday. First tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Carver Arena.

PROMOTIONS
• In Kaboom!'s Korner is a Bounce House and additional inflatables from Fun on the Run.
• Wednesday's game is the first of the Turkey Two-Pack ticket special. For $24 in the red level, fans receive a ticket to Wednesday and Saturday's game (vs. Georgia Southern) in addition to a free Bradley ball cap.

ABOUT THE BRAVES
• Bradley has started the season with a 4-1 record, matching the team's best start through five games since beginning 5-0 in 2006-07.
• BU is returning home from its Bahamas tournament, going 2-1 in its first foreign trip since 1989.
• Sophomore Darrell Brown is coming off a season-best 23 points in the win against Weber State and now leads the Braves with 14.0 points and 2.8 assists per game.
• Senior Donte Thomas is second on the team with 11.2 points per game, in addition to a team-leading 8.0 rebounds.
• Junior guard Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye is second on the team with 6.8 rebounds, while tied for first with 2.8 assists.
• The strength of the team so far is on defense where BU is allowing only 60.8 points, 38.7 field goal percentage and 29.2 percent 3-pointers.

SERIES HISTORY
• The Braves and Miners are meeting for the first time.

ABOUT THE MINERS
• A Division II school, Missouri S&T has opened with a 1-2 record to start the 2017-18 season.
• The Miners last played on Saturday with a 79-60 win against Robert Morris-Peoria for their first victory of the season.
• Missouri S&T features five players averaging double figures, led by Sebastian Ferenc with 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
• Chris Harris is second with 17.0 points per game.
• The Miners are averaging 68.0 points per game this season, while allowing 75.7.

BAHAMAS RECAP
• Bradley returned from the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase with a 2-1 record, falling to eventual champion Vermont by a single point, before wins against UTSA and Weber State.
• It marked the first time since the 2002 Rainbow Classic that Bradley earned two neutral-site wins in a regular-season tournament.
• Darrell Brown led the Braves with 16.3 points in the three games, while Donte Thomas recorded 11.0 points and 7.3 rebounds.
• Freshman Elijah Childs led Bradley with 7.7 boards in the Bahamas to go with 9.7 points.
• Wednesday's game versus Missouri S&T is officially the Braves' last game of the tournament as BU hosts its mandated non-Division I team as part of tournament schedule.

DOUBLE-DIGIT THREAT
• Sophomore Darrell Brown has continued to shine as the Braves go-to scorer this season.
• Brown leads BU with 14.0 points per game after a season-best 23 points in the win versus Weber State (his fifth career 20-point game).
• Brown has scored in double figures in all five games this year, matching the longest streak by a Brave to start the season since Daniel Ruffin had nine-straight to start the 2007-08 season.

CRASHING THE GLASS
• The Braves have controlled the rebounding game this year, helping the team to its 4-1 record.
• Bradley has won the rebounding game in all five contests. It matches the team's longest streak of outrebounding foes since an eight-game stretch during the 2005-06 season.
• Overall, the Braves have seen their NCAA ranking raise 212 spots in offensive rebounds per game and 159 places in rebounding margin.
• Donte Thomas leads the team with 8.0 rebounds per game, while ranking 90th nationally with 3.20 offensive boards per game.

3-POINT PROGRESSION
• One key to the team's steady success under Coach Wardle is from the 3-point line.
• Bradley currently ranks 32nd nationally with a 3-point percentage of 42.9.
• In Coach Wardle's first season, Bradley averaged 28.0 percent before a 7.6 percent increase last year that ranked as the eighth-largest nationally.

PICK YOUR 3-POINT POISON
• The real key to the Braves' 3-point offensive success is the amount of weapons the team has.
• Bradley features four players who are making at least 50 percent of their treys this year.
• Last year, only Nate Kennell finished above 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. This year, Kennell leads the Braves 10 3-pointers made (38.5%).

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