PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley
guards Dyricus Simms-Edwards and Walt Lemon Jr. combined for 43 points and 10
steals, leading the Braves to a 67-57 win versus Drake in the MVC opener for
both teams Saturday night.
Lemon paced the Braves offensively with a season-high 23
points, while Simms-Edwards added 20.
The backcourt combo also spearheaded a defensive effort that forced
Drake into 18 turnovers and led the Braves to a 23-6 advantage in points off
turnovers. Together, the duo combined
for 43 points, 10 steals, eight rebounds, six assists and just four of Bradley's
eight turnovers.
Simms-Edwards, who entered the game tied for eighth
nationally with 3.0 steals per game, finished with eight thefts, one shy of the
school and MVC single-game record.
Simms-Edwards also provided the bulk of the defensive work against Drake
season scoring leader Ben Simons, who managed 13 points, but was 4-for-18 from
the field and 1-for-8 from 3-point range.
Simons snared 10 defensive rebounds for a double-double,
while the Bulldogs also got double-digit scoring efforts from Chris Hines (11
points) and Seth VanDeest (10). Bradley junior forward Tyshon Pickett scored 10
points and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.
While Bradley harassed Drake into 10-for-29 (.345)
shooting in the first half and 11 turnovers before the break, the Braves failed
to take full advantage and had to settle for a 29-27 lead at the intermission.
Hines opened the second half with a 3-pointer to give the
Bulldogs a 30-29 lead, but Bradley responded with a 14-1 run to take
control. The Braves eventually stretched
the lead to 18 points, 60-42, on a Simms-Edwards steal and breakaway layup with
7:36 remaining, then held off a late Drake rally that closed the gap to as few
as nine points, 64-55, with 2:29 remaining.
Drake entered the game ranked second nationally by shooting
43.5 percent from 3-point range and fourth nationally by averaging 9.5 treys per
game. The Bulldogs finished 5-for-27
(.185) from behind the arc as Bradley held a fifth consecutive opponent to
fewer than 60 points in regulation for the first time since a 6-game streak in
1997-98.
Bradley will hit The Valley road for the first time when the
Braves visit Southern Illinois for a 7:05 p.m. game that will be televised in
the Peoria area on WAOE (My59). Bradley
will return home to host Wichita State Jan. 6 in a 4:30 p.m. game to be
televised on ESPNU.
