PEORIA, Ill. ? Bradley swingmen Theron Wilson and Chris Roberts each scored 12 points and made a pair of free throws in the game's final 45 seconds, leading the Braves (10-5, 4-0 MVC) to a 56-52 victory against Interstate 74 rival Illinois State (14-1, 3-1 MVC) in front of 11,592 boisterous fans Tuesday night at Carver Arena. Illinois State entered the game as one of the nation's four remaining undefeated teams, but the Braves took over sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings by turning in another stellar defensive performance.
While Bradley leads The Valley in scoring defense (59.3 points allowed per game) and field goal percentage defense (.359) in conference play, Illinois State came to Carver Arena leading the league in scoring offense (77.4 points per game), field goal percentage (.465), 3-point field goal percentage (.405) and 3-point field goals made per game (9.8). Defense won out Tuesday as the Braves held Illinois State to its lowest offensive output of the season on 37.3 percent (22-59) shooting from the field, including a 6-for-26 (.231) effort from 3-point range. The Braves improved to 10-0 when holding the opposition to fewer than 70 points this season.
The defensive work allowed the Braves to capture their seventh straight home win in the series, which was played in front of the second-largest home crowd in Bradley Basketball history, just five short of the 11,597 who witnessed last season's game against Michigan State at Carver Arena.
Illinois State junior guard Osiris Eldridge led three Redbirds in double-figures with a game-high 17 points, while also adding a game-high 10 rebounds. Forward Dinma Odiakosa added 12 points and point guard Emmanuel Holloway chipped in 10 points to complete the double-digit scoring. Although Roberts and Wilson were Bradley's only double-digit scorers, all nine Braves to see action scored at least two points.
After allowing Illinois State to make four of its first six field goal attempts to fall behind 10-9 4:31 into the game, the Braves locked down the Redbirds for the remainder of the half. Illinois State made only five of its last 21 field goal attempts in the opening stanza. The Braves finally grabbed the lead for good when senior center Sam Singh canned a jumper for a 16-14 advantage with 9:17 left in the period. Although freshman forward Taylor Brown played only five minutes in the game, he made the most of his limited time, scoring consecutive baskets inside to launch a 12-1 Bradley run that stretched the home team's advantage to 30-18 when Roberts hit a 3-pointer with 2:10 left in the half.
After settling for a 30-21 lead at the break, Bradley scored the first five points of the second half on a Maniscalco 3-pointer and Wilson interior basket to build a game-high 14-point bulge, 35-21. The Redbirds methodically closed the gap and eventually pulled to within 50-45 in the closing minutes. With the Redbirds threatening to pull closer, Bradley got consecutive blocked shots by Roberts and Singh on the same possession before Wilson rebounded Illinois State's third attempt of the possession. Fouled after the rebound, Wilson drained both of the resulting free throws with 45 seconds left to supply some breathing room and Roberts closed the door with his two free throws left with five seconds remaining to give the Braves a 56-50 lead.
Bradley will conclude its two-game homestand Saturday night by hosting Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite Creighton (12-4, 2-2) in a 7:05 tip at Carver Arena. Bradley University will induct its newest class into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame during a halftime ceremony Saturday. The class includes former basketball player Adebayo Akinkunle, women's cross country/track runner Deb Knieja Ognar, volleyball player Jenny Pavlas Groess and the 1987-88 MVC champion men's basketball team. Ticket prices range from $8-20 and may be purchased at the Bradley Ticket Office at Shea Stadium, the Carver Arena Box Office or online at www.BradleyBraves.com.
