SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The logjam in the middle of the Missouri Valley Conference standings got even more crowded Saturday after Missouri State (15-7, 6-5) pulled into a fourth-place tie with visiting Bradley (15-8, 6-5) by downing the Braves, 85-70, in front of 8,228 fans at the Hammons Student Center.
Reserve forward Dale Lamberth put up a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds and Blake Ahearn scored a game-high 21 points, helping Missouri State pull away down the stretch. Shane Laurie added 11 points off the bench and Drew Richards chipped in with 10 points for the Bears, who snapped a three-game skid. Bradley was led by junior point guard Daniel Ruffin's 19 points, seven assists and four steals. Backcourt mate Will Franklin added 17 points. Danny Adams drained 4-of-5 3-pointers to score 12 points off the Braves bench and senior center Zach Andrews completed the double-digit scoring with 11 points.
Having missed the previous eight games after spraining his right knee Dec. 30, Bradley junior guard Jeremy Crouch returned to action and scored five points in 24 minutes off the bench for his first single-digit scoring game of the season. Crouch had scored in double-figures in each of his first 16 games before the injury. He did extend his streak of consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer to 17, however, by making 1-of-4 attempts from behind the arc.
Missouri State jumped out to 7-0 lead to open the game and built the advantage to 11-2 before Bradley battled back. In a hot-shooting half by both teams, the lead changed hands 12 times and the teams were tied three times in the first 20 minutes. After a Ruffin forced the game's final tie, 52-52, on a 3-pointer with 14:26 left, four different Bears scored during a 9-1 Missouri State surge that put the hosts in charge.
Bradley was still within 65-60 following two Franklin free throws with 8:03 left, but the Bears used another 7-2 burst to gain its first double-digit lead of the game, 72-62. The Braves went cold down the stretch and could not get closer than seven points the rest of the way.
Missouri State made 31-of-53 (.585) field goal attempts in the game and outrebounded the Braves, 39-22. Although Bradley committed only 11 turnovers, compared to 15 for Missouri State, the Bears also had the advantage in points off turnovers, 20-18.
Facing another road heavy portion of its schedule, Bradley will return home for a pivotal Missouri Valley Conference game Wednesday night. The Braves will host league co-leader Creighton (14-7, 8-3) in a 7:35 p.m. contest at Carver Arena Wednesday before heading back out on the road for four of its next five. Wednesday's game will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest and Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Everyone in attendance will receive a red pom-pon, courtesy of Methodist Medical Center.
