PEORIA, Ill -- Bradley senior point guard Daniel Ruffin (Peoria, Ill./Central H.S.) led all players with 20 points and a career-high-tying seven rebounds and carried the host Braves (1-1) to a 65-56 men's basketball victory versus Iowa State (2-1) in front of 10,253 fans Wednesday night at Carver Arena. The win was Bradley's 15th consecutive home-opening win and the team's 26th straight non-conference home victory dating back to 2002.
The 5-foot-10 Ruffin was the only Bradley player to score in double-figures. Rahshon Clark and Diante Garrett shared team-high scoring honors for Iowa State with 13 points and Cyclones point guard Bryan Petersen added 12 points to complete the double-digit scoring.
After Iowa State took a 31-30 lead into halftime, the Braves scored the first nine points of the second half to take the lead for good. Four different players scored during the 9-0 burst in the first 2:35 of the second half, capped by Ruffin's 3-pointer from the right wing that gave the Braves a 39-31 lead. Back-to-back screen-and-roll layups by junior center Sam Singh (Ozark, Mo./Ozark H.S.) twice gave Bradley a game-high nine-point lead, 46-37 and 48-39, the latter with 13:12 remaining.
Iowa State chipped away at the deficit and closed to within 50-48 on a Jiri Hubalek putback with 9:03 remaining. Bradley sophomore guard Andrew Warren (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf Jesuit Prep) hit consecutive shots to give the Braves some breathing room, 54-48, and the Cyclones were unable to get closer than four the rest of the way.
With Clark shadowing Bradley sharpshooter Jeremy Crouch all night -- Crouch scored eight points by was 0-for-4 from 3-point land -- the Braves turned to junior college transfer Theron Wilson (Topeka, Kan./Highland Park H.S.) to deliver the game's dagger. Ruffin made one of his patented drives along the Bradley baseline, then found Wilson on the left wing for a 3-pointer with 2:24 left to stretch the lead to 61-53. Ruffin closed out Bradley's scoring by making all four of his free throw attempts in the final 49.7 seconds.
Although Iowa State had a clear height advantage, the Braves outrebounded the Cyclones 27-25. Bradley also used its quickness to force 18 Iowa State turnovers, 12 from steals, and turned the added opportunities into a 20-12 advantage in points off turnovers and a 14-4 edge in transition points.
The Braves will continue their three-game home stand Sunday afternoon by hosting Maryland-Eastern Shore in the first round of the South Padre Island Invitational. Following Sunday's 2:05 p.m. game, the Braves will host Florida Gulf Coast Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. in the second round, before heading to South Padre Island, Texas, for a Nov. 23 matchup against Iowa. Bradley is offering a special ticket promotion for the first two rounds of the South Padre Island Invitational -- The Turkey Two-Pack -- allowing fans to purchase Tuesday's ticket at half price with the purchase of a ticket to Sunday's game. Tickets prices range from $8 to $18, based on location, and may be purchased in person at the Robertson Fieldhouse Box Office, the Carver Arena Box Office or online at www.bubraves.com.
