PEORIA, Ill. - Bradley senior guard Andrew Warren (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf Jesuit Prep) scored a game high 26 points but it was not enough to help the Braves (6-7, 0-2 MVC) get their first conference win of the season as Wichita State pulled away midway through the second half for a 79-63 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball victory Saturday night at Carver Arena.
David Kyles led four Shockers in double figures with 13 points and his jumper with 11:46 remaining launched Wichita State on a 12-1 run that turned a 48-42 lead into a 60-43 advantage when he scored again with 7:47 left. The lead grew to as many as 22 points as the Shockers (11-2, 2-0 MVC) earned their first true road win of the season, their sixth consecutive victory overall and completed their first 2-0 start in the league race since their Valley championship season in 2005-06.
Bradley controlled the pace in the first half, and despite shooting only 37.0 percent (10-27) from the field, the Braves trailed just 33-32 at halftime. But after the Shockers used 11 total players off the bench in the first half, Wichita State appeared to wear the Braves down in the second half.
After shooting 37.9 percent (11-29) from the floor in the first half, Wichita State made 20-of-38 (.526) field goal attempts after the break, while also turning a +3 rebounding edge at halftime into a final 42-32 bulge on the boards and forcing nine second-half turnovers by the Braves.
Wichita State's bench outscored Bradley's reserves 42-4 for the game and the Shockers outscored Bradley 9-0 off turnovers in the second half.
Gabe Blair (nine rebounds) and J.T. Durley (eight) each scored 11 points for Wichita State, while combining for 17 rebounds, and Ben Smith added 10 points off the bench for the Shockers. Bradley sophomore guard Dyricus Simms-Edwards scored a career-best 15 points in his return to the starting lineup after suffering a sprained knee Dec. 6.
By making all nine of his free throw attempts, Warren extended his streak to 41 consecutive made free throw attempts to become just the second player in Bradley history to make at least 40 in a row. James Gillingham set the record with 44 consecutive free throws in February 2003. Warren also becomes the sixth player in Valley history to make at least 40 free throws attempts in a row.
The Braves will complete a two-game home stand Tuesday by hosting Southern Illinois in a 7:05 p.m. tip at Carver Arena.
