CARBONDALE, Ill. - Junior guard Sam Maniscalco (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick H.S.) scored a season-high 21 points as Bradley (9-9 overall, 4-4 MVC) snapped an eight-game losing streak at Southern Illinois' SIU Arena with a 57-55 Missouri Valley Conference victory Tuesday night. The win was head coach Jim Les' first victory in Carbondale and the Braves first since 2001.

A Maniscalco three-pointer capped a 15-0 Bradley run to open the game, but Southern Illinois responded with a 10-2 run to cut the Braves' lead to seven with 10:55 remaining. Freshman guard Dyricus Simms-Edwards' (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S.) baseline drive ended the Salukis' surge and gave Bradley a 19-10 advantage.

SIU continued to chip away at the Bradley lead, pulling within three, 21-18, with 5:06 left in the first half. A three-point play from Maniscalco and a Simms-Edwards three-pointer helped give the Braves a 32-29 edge at halftime.

Southern Illinois' Tony Freeman drained a three to open the second half, tying the score at 32. Simms-Edwards connected from long range with 15:20 remaining to extend Bradley's lead to six, 41-35, but SIU would not go away.

The Salukis used a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game, 55-54, with 2:31 remaining. Three free throws from Maniscalco gave Bradley a two-point edge, 57-55, with less than a minute to play. Southern Illinois had one final shot to take the lead, but Freeman's three-pointer was short, giving Bradley the 57-55 victory.

Maniscalco led all scorers with 21 points, including 14 in the first half and 12 from the free throw line. Sophomore center Will Egolf (Juneau, Alaska/Douglas H.S.) earned his second career double-double, setting career-highs for both points (15) and rebounds (11), all while celebrating his 21st birthday. Freeman finished with 15 to lead the Salukis.

The Braves will return to action Saturday, Jan. 23 against Evansville in a 2:05 p.m. tip at Carver Arena.