TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? Bradley junior point guard Daniel Ruffin (Peoria, Ill./Central H.S.) scored a game-high 19 points and the Braves (13-6, 4-3) hit their hosts with big runs to close each half, handing Indiana State (11-5, 4-2) its first home loss in 10 games this season, 76-59, Saturday night at the Hulman Center.
After Jay Tunnell gave Indiana State a 19-18 lead on two free throws with 6:49 left in the first half, Bradley stunned the Sycamores with a 19-3 run to close the first half. And after absorbing a salvo from Indiana State to start the second half, the Braves turned a 48-40 advantage with 10:31 remaining into a game-high 22-point advantage, 75-53, when Zach Andrews sank two free throws with 1:06 left.
Andrews turned in his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Will Franklin added 17 points and reserve guard Danny Adams chipped in with 10, highlighted by a 3-for-3 shooting effort from behind the 3-point line. Trent Wurtz led Indiana State with 14 points and Gabe Moore was the only other Sycamore in double figures with 11 points.
Although the overall run was 19-3, the Braves truly broke the game open in the final 3:25 of the first half. With Bradley leading 25-22, Ruffin drained the second of his three first-half 3-pointers with 3:25 left, then after a couple of misses by both teams, Ruffin added his third trey for a 31-22 lead with 1:36 left in the half. Bradley called timeout after a defensive rebound and Ruffin continued his hot streak with a corner jumper. The Braves then got back-to-back steals, ending the half on an Andrew Warren follow slam and a final Ruffin layup for the 37-22 halftime advantage.
Bradley came into the game leading the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (.449) and the Braves improved on that number by draining 11-of-20 (.550) from behind the arc. Conversely, Indiana State made only 5-of-26 (.192), including two by Marico Stinson in the game's final 1:02.
The Braves also outrebounded Indiana State 37-27, ending a nine-game streak of being outrebounded. Although Bradley was being outrebounded by seven boards per contest, the Braves improved to 11-1 this year when they are at least within six boards of the opposition.
Bradley, which improved to 2-1 on the road in the Missouri Valley Conference, will shoot for its third straight league road win and fourth consecutive win overall when the Braves visit league co-leading Creighton (11-5, 5-1) Thursday night. Bradley will return home to host Wichita State Saturday night at Carver Arena.
