NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State forward Dinma Odiakosa scored a career-high 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting as the Redbirds (15-7 overall, 6-5 MVC) earned a 66-47 Missouri Valley Conference victory over I-74 rival Bradley (10-11 overall, 5-6 MVC) Saturday at Redbird Arena.

A steal and dunk by junior guard Andrew Warren (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf Jesuit Prep) gave the Braves an early 7-5 lead with 16:42 remaining in the first half. The Redbirds responded with a 9-2 run to gain a five-point edge, 14-9. Sophomore forward Taylor Brown (Atlanta, Ga./Dunwoody H.S.) drained a three to tie the score at 21 with 4:20 remaining, but Illinois State answered with a 14-5 run to close the half, 35-26.

The Braves went over six minutes without a field goal to open the second half as Illinois State increased its lead to 48-29. Six straight Bradley points helped close the gap to 13, 48-35, while a Warren three with 6:46 remaining cut the lead to 12, 52-40.

Bradley would come no closer as Illinois State used an 8-0 run to take a 20-point lead, 60-40, and the game, 66-47.

Odiakosa led all scorers with 25 points and also pulled down 12 rebounds. Warren finished with a team-high 11 points for the Braves. Illinois State out-rebounded Bradley 50-28, including a 20-7 offensive rebounding margin. The Redbirds scored 34 points-in-the-paint to Bradley's 10, and also led in second-chance points 24-2.

Bradley will host Drake this Tuesday, Feb. 2 in a 7:05 p.m. tip at Carver Arena. The Braves beat the Bulldogs earlier this season 67-59 in Des Moines, Iowa.