PEORIA, Ill. - Drake made eight of its first 10 field goal attempts and rode a hot-shooting first half to a 69-57 win at Bradley (7-15, 2-7 MVC) Wednesday night at Carver Arena.

The Bulldogs (5-16, 2-7 MVC) got a desparation 3-pointer from Gary Ricks at the end of the shot clock on their first possession and never looked back. Drake finished the first half 16-for-24 from the field, including 6-for-10 from 3-point range, and settled for a 41-31 lead at the break after leading by as much as 14 in the opening 20 minutes.

Bradley pulled to within 58-51 on an Auston Barnes 3-pointer with 7:37 left, but the comeback attempt stalled when the Braves managed only six field goal attempts the rest of the way and missed all six.

Freshman forward Josh Cunningham posted his third double-double of the season with 16 points and a career-best 15 rebounds and his eight offensive boards were the most by a Brave since Zach Andrews tied the school single-game record with 11 against Western Kentucky Dec. 14, 2005. Junior guard Warren Jones added a game-high 18 points for the Braves, but while the tandem combined to make 14-of-27 (.519) field goal attempts, the rest of the team was just 6-for-25 (.240) from the floor.

Ricks shared team-high scoring honors for Drake with Reed Timmer as both Bulldogs guards scored 15 points. Center Jacob Enevold added 14 points for the visitors.

Bradley hit the road for three of its next four games beginning with a 12:05 p.m. CST tip Saturday at Indiana State. The Braves will return home Wednesday to host #12 Wichita State, before hitting the road again for games Feb. 7 at Evansville and Feb. 11 at Drake.