PEORIA, Ill. - Walt Lemon, Jr. scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the final 9:36, helping Bradley (9-13, 4-5 MVC) break open a close game against Illinois State (11-10, 4-5) en route to a 64-45 in the first round of the Interstate 74 Rivalry Wednesday night at Carver Arena.

Stuck on four points while shooting 0-for-5 from the floor, Lemon buried a 3-pointer with 9:36 remaining for a 39-35 Bradley lead. The trey started a 12-0 Bradley run and the Braves never looked back. Lemon finished the night by making six of his final eight attempts for his ninth 20-point scoring effort of the season.

Tyshon Pickett added 12 points, Ka'Darryl Bell equalled his career-best with 11 points and Auston Barnes chipped in his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Bell made a career-best three 3-pointers and Barnes dished out a career-best four assists, while Lemon passed L.C. Bowen (1,516) for 12th place on Bradley's all-time scoring list and jumped five spots to 72nd on the Missouri Valley Conference all-time scoring list with 1,527 career points.

Paris Lee and Daishon Knight both scored eight points to lead Illinois State, the first time no opposing player has scored in double-figures versus Bradley since Indiana State Jan. 4, 2003.

Bradley shot 58.3 percent (14-24) from the field in the second half to finish the game at .447 (21-47), while the recently cold-shooting Redbirds remained cold by hitting just 17-of-52 (.327) from the field, including 4-of-22 (.182) from 3-point range. Bradley also used 11 steals to force 19 Illinois State turnovers, converting the miscues into a 23-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

Bradley, which won its third straight home game since a 68-65 loss to Missouri State Jan. 8, will visit the Bears Saturday for a 2:05 p.m. tip at JQH Arena.