PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley became the first team to sweep the Missouri Valley Conference weekly awards this season when sophomore guard Andrew Warren (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf Jesuit Prep) won the league's Player-of-the-Week honor and junior forward Theron Wilson (Topeka, Kan./Highland Park H.S.) nabbed The Valley's Newcomer-of-the-Week award, according to an announcement from the league office this afternoon.
In Bradley's only game last week, Warren scored a team-high 23 points and Wilson chipped in with 14 points and nine rebounds, leading the Braves (7-3) to a 72-65 overtime victory at Wright State, the defending Horizon League regular-season and postseason tournament champion. The duo become the third and fourth Braves to be recognized by The Valley through the season's first six weeks. Junior center David Collins was the Newcomer of the Week Nov. 19 and senior guard Jeremy Crouch was voted the Player of the Week Dec. 3.
Warren turned in career-bests by sinking eight field goals, including five 3-pointers, in Tuesday night's win at Wright State. While his teammates were struggling from the field, making just 6-of-18 field goal attempts, Warren made all four of his shots from 3-point range to highlight a 14-point first half. The 6-foot-5 sophomore added his fifth trey with 33 seconds left in regulation to trim Wright State's lead to 57-56. He also contributed four rebounds, all offensive, two assists and two steals in Tuesday night's win.
Wilson scored a career-best 14 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds against the Raiders. The 6-foot-5, high-flying wing made 5-of-8 field goal attempts, including a timely 3-pointer with 3:55 left in regulation to help the Braves rally from a 9-point deficit in the final six minutes. He grabbed his fifth offensive rebound with 1-minute left in overtime and slammed home the putback while being fouled to set up a game-clinching 3-point play, giving the Braves a 68-63 lead.
After taking a week off for final exams Bradley will return to action Wednesday night by visiting #18 Butler (9-1), the Horizon League's other defending regular-season co-champion, in a 7 p.m. (EST) tip at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Braves will return home Saturday night by hosting defending Colonial Athletic Association regular-season and tournament champion VCU in a 7:05 p.m. contest at Carver Arena.
A limited number of tickets, ranging from $8-18, remain for Saturday night's contest against the Rams and are available for purchase in person from the Robertson Fieldhouse Box Office, the Carver Arena Box Office or online at www.bubraves.com. Bradley has planned several promotions for Saturday night's game:
Stripe the Arena: The athletic department will distribute 10,000 red t-shirts and white t-shirts throughout the arena to create a holiday candy cane look to Carver Arena.
Bucket Boys: The popular percussion group will perform pregame and at halftime.
Salvation Army Coats for Kids: Representatives of the Salvation Army will be collecting new and gently used winter coats for distritbution to needy children in the area.
District 150 Perfect Attendance Initiative: Peoria Public Schools District 150 students with perfect attendance during the 2007 Fall semester will receive vouchers which will be redeemable Saturday at the Carver Arena Box Office for free tickets to Saturday night's game.
