FT. MYERS, Fla. -- Reggie Hamilton scored a game-high 20 points and UMKC (2-3) rode an 11-0 run at the end of the first half to a 73-61 men's basketball victory against Bradley (1-2) in the opening game of the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic Ft. Myers Sub-Regional Monday evening at Alico Arena.
Dane Brumagin added 17 points and Latreze Mushatt chipped in with 14 points for the Kangaroos. Sophomore guard Sam Maniscalco equalled his career-best with 16 points off the bench for Bradley, while senior forward Theron Wilson added 12 points and junior swingman Chris Roberts scored 10 points for the Braves.
Bradley pulled to within 25-24 on an Eddren McCain layup with 4:44 left in the first half, but Brumagin started UMKC's half-closing run with a layup with 3:23 left and went on to score seven of the Kangaroos' final 11 points of the half to give his team a 36-24 lead at the break. The Braves committed 16 turnovers in the first half, while also committing 13 fouls, leading to a 10-for-10 effort from the free throw line by UMKC in the first 20 minutes.
Bradley never was able to get the deficit into single digits in the second half. The Kangaroos shot 16-for-25 (.640) from the field in the second half to prevent any attempt at a Bradley rally.
Although the Braves outrebounded UMKC, 34-28, they were unable to take advantage of their 18 offensive rebounds by shooting just 36.4 percent (20-55) from the field. After closing a 62-44 deficit to 62-50 with 5:09 left, the Braves had a chance to close the gap even further, but misfired on three staight looks in the paint before allowing UMKC guard Trey McKinney-Jones to score in transition with 4:07 remaining.
Bradley will take on the Sub-Regional host, Florida Gulf Coast, in the third round of the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic Tuesday. The game is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. (CST) tip, but likely will be delayed by the day's opening game between UMKC and Richmond. All three Bradley games in the Ft. Myers Sub-Regional are being televised in the Peoria area by Comcast cable -- (Comcast 74 and Mediacom 78).
