PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley sophomore center Patrick O'Bryant led all players with 14 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots and the Braves (13-7, 7-5) outscored their Interstate 74 rival Illinois State 43-14 in the second half en route to the most-lopsided margin of victory in the series since 1957, a 73-44 triumph Wednesday night at Carver Arena.
Playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 11,164, Bradley unleashed a 16-0 run on the Redbirds to start the second half, turning a 30-30 halftime tie into a 46-30 lead with 13:30 left in the game. The final 29-point margin of victory was the widest since Bradley turned in a 97-47 victory Dec. 3, 1957 at Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse. Illinois State's 44 points were the fewest by either team in the series since a 55-41 Bradley victory Feb. 23, 1993 at Carver Arena.
Bradley pulled off the rout despite an off night by two-time, first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference forward Marcellus Sommerville. The reigning Valley Player of the Week, who came into the game second in the league in scoring at 15.2 points per game and sixth in rebounding at 6.7 boards per game, went scoreless from the field and grabbed only one rebound. The Braves made up the difference with a balanced attack. Reserves Will Franklin and Lawrence Wright both scored 10 points. In all, 11 different Bradley players scored and six finished with at least seven points.
Illinois State guard Nedu Onyeuku scored 12 points and reserve guard Khalif Ford scored all 10 of his points in the first half.
After allowing Illinois State to shoot 50 percent (14-28) from the field in the first half, Bradley limited the Redbirds to 28.0 percent (7-25) in the second half. The Redbirds did not score in the second period until Onyeuku converted a driving layup with 13:03 remaining. After Dana Ford followed with a transition bucket, Bradley went on another 16-2 run, claiming a 62-36 lead with 6:14 remaining and removing all doubt about the outcome.
Compounding Illinois State's problems, the Redbirds committed 25 turnovers in the game, shot 2-for-11 from 3-point range and missed all four of their free throw attempts.
In addition to winning five of the last six regular-season meetings versus the Redbirds, Bradley has won five of six overall and four straight to keep pace with Missouri State for fifth place in the Valley standings. Indiana State's upset Wednesday night at Southern Illinois created a four-way tie for first in the league standings between the Salukis, #24 Northern Iowa, Creighton and Wichita State. All four teams are 9-3 in the Vallley, two games ahead of the Bears and Braves.
Bradley and Missouri State will settle their tie Saturday when the Braves visit the Hammons Student Center. Last Wednesday night, Bradley earned an 86-76 victory against the Bears at Carver Arena.
