PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley junior swingman Chris Roberts (Fort Worth, Texas/Dunbar H.S.) has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week after helping the Braves (9-5, 3-0 MVC) to a pair of Valley road wins last week at Wichita State and Missouri State. The 6-foot-4 transfer from Navarro (Texas) College averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocked shots and 1.5 steals, helping the Braves to victories in their first two MVC road games of a season since 1995-96.
After contributing seven points, five rebounds and two blocked shots in Wednesday's 60-58 win at Wichita State, Roberts turned in Bradley's highest-scoring output of the season in Saturday's 63-57 win at Missouri State with 22 points. Active on the defensive end, Roberts had 21 deflections in the two games, nine at Wichita State and 12 more at Missouri State, a two-game total that included six blocked shots and three steals. He combined to shoot 64.7 percent (11-17) from the field, 60 percent (3-5) from 3-point range and 80 percent (4-5) from the free throw line in the two games.
Roberts is the second Brave to win The Valley's Newcomer of the Week award this season, following junior guard Dodie Dunson, who won the award Nov. 17 after his 21-point effort in Bradley's season-opening win against UIC.
Bradley's two wins last week helped set up a showdown Tuesday night at Carver Arena againt Interstate 74 rival Illinois State (14-0, 3-0 MVC), one of just four remaining unbeaten teams in the country. The bitter rivals are tied atop The Valley standings and will be playing for sole possession of first place in the league standings for the first time since the Braves secured at least a share of the 1996 regular-season MVC title with a 65-64 win against the Redbirds Feb. 24, 1996 at Carver Arena.
As of Monday afternoon, fewer than 500 $8 tickets in the upper bowl at Carver Arena remained for Tuesday's night's I-74 Rivalry game. Bradley has drawn better than 11,000 fans to each of the last three home games against the Redbirds, including standing-room-only crowds in excess of 11,400 the last two years. Tickets may be purchased at the Bradley Ticket Office at Shea Stadium, the Carver Arena Box Office or online at Bradley's official athletic department home page -- www.BradleyBraves.com.
