PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley freshman center Patrick O'Bryant (Blaine, Minn./Blaine H.S.) matched a career-high with 20 points and added nine rebounds and three blocked shots, leading the Braves (13-12, 6-10) to a 77-61 victory versus Illinois State (17-10, 8-8) in the 100th all-time meeting between the Interstate 74 rivals Wednesday night at Carver Arena.

O'Bryant was one of four Braves in double-figures and was joined by junior guard Tony Bennett (Chicago, Ill./Westinghouse H.S.) scored 19 points, junior forward Lawrence Wright (Beale A.F.B., Calif./Wheatland H.S.) added 16 points and junior forward Marcellus Sommerville (Peoria, Ill./Peoria H.S.) chipped in with 11 points. Illinois State senior guards Vince Greene and Trey Guidry scored 17 and 14 points, respectively, and junior forward Lorenzo Gordon finished with 10 points and nine boards.

Despite combining for 31 points, Greene and Guidry were a combined 0-for-10 from the field in the first half and were limited to a single Guidry free throw in the first 20 minutes. With the Redbird guards struggling to find their shot, Bradley built its first-half advantage to as many as 20 points, 38-18, before Gregg Alexander drained a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the half.

Bradley held a 16-11 lead when Sommerville, the Valley's scoring leader and third-leading rebounder, was forced to the bench with his second foul with 10:25 left in the first half. After Redbird center Greg Dilligard scored inside to pull ISU within 16-13, Bradley rattled off 19-3 run to take control. O'Bryant and Bennett combined for 13 points during the run.

Bradley shot a sizzling 57.5 percent (15-26) from the field in the first half, while Illinois State was just 9-for-29 (.310).

After Sommerville scored the first basket of the second half for a 40-21 Bradley lead, Greene scored five points during an 8-0 ISU run the pulled the Redbirds within 40-29 with 16:23 remaining. O'Bryant ended the run with a tip-in basket and the Braves steadily built their lead back up to a game-high 21 points, 63-42, on a pair of Bennett free throws with 6:18 left. Illinois State got not closer than 15 points the rest of the way.

Bradley committed only nine turnovers in the game, including only three in the second half, and outscored Illinois State 17-11 in points off turnovers. Bradley's nine steals helped the Braves to a 27-4 advantage in transition points.