TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? Bradley junior guard Dodie Dunson came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points and the Braves (11-6, 5-1 MVC) turned in another impressive defensive effort en route to a 63-52 Missouri Valley Conference road win at Indiana State (4-13, 2-4 MVC) Tuesday night at the Hulman Center. Bradley remains tied atop the league standings with UNI by improving to 3-0 on The Valley road for the first time since 1993-94.
Bradley's defense limited the Sycamores to one field goal in the final 8+ minutes of each half. In the first half, Jay Tunnell inside bucket pulled Indiana State to within 18-16 with 8:38 left before the break, but the Sycamores did not score again from the field until Tunnell buried a 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining. After Rashad Reed capped a 7-0 Indiana State run with a second consecutive 3-pointer to pull the Sycamores within 46-44 with 8:05 remaining in the game, Bradley pulled away down the stretch by limiting Indiana State to just a Jordan Printy 3-pointer with 37 seconds remaining.
Indiana State shot just 34.0 percent (16-47) from the field, including a 6-or-23 (.261) effort from 3-point range. Bradley's defense also used 10 steals to help force 15 Sycamore turnovers and the Braves won the rebounding battle, 33-32, while limiting the cold-shooting hosts to just three second-chance points.
Senior forward Theron Wilson finished with 12 points for the Braves, while also putting up game-high numbers of seven rebounds and four steals, and sophomore guard Sam Manicalco chipped in 11 points. Freshman point guard Eddren McCain did his part with eight points, seven assists and no turnovers. Reed led four Indiana State players in double figures with 12 points. Jay Tunnell added 11 points, while Aaron Carter and Printy both finished with 10.
Two Carter free throws with 6:39 left pulled Indiana State to within 51-48. Wilson countered with a pair of free throws on Bradley's next possession to start a 10-0 run that put Bradley in control. McCain scored on a turnaround jumper in the lane, Dunson scored on a driving layup, the 5-foot-11 McCain added another layup of Sycamore big man Josh Crawford and Wilson capped the run by splitting a pair of free throw attempts with 2:28 remaining for a 60-48 lead.
Bradley, which improved to 11-0 this year when limiting the opposition to fewer than 70 points, will shoot for its fourth consecutive road win Sunday when the Braves visit Southern Illinois in the return game of their 79-63 victory in The Valley opener for both teams Dec. 28 at Carver Arena. Sunday's 6:05 p.m. clash at SIU Arena will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
