PEORIA, IL - Bradley rode a 19-0 run midway through the first half and a balanced offensive attack to a 61-53 men's basketball victory versus visiting Maryville University Thursday night at Carver Arena.

Playing for the first time in nine days due to a break for final exams, Bradley (2-9) started slow Thursday before taking control with the big run. Maryville (4-7) held a 14-5 lead after a Saikou Jallow 3-pointer with 12:59 left in the first half. Luuk van Bree started Bradley's game-changing run by snaring an offensive rebound and splitting a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession for the home team.

The Braves pulled to within 14-12 on three consecutive buckets in the paint from Donte Thomas, Callum Barker and Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye, then turned to the long ball to take control. Antoine Pittman's corner 3-pointer with 9:31 left put Bradley in front, 15-14, and the Braves later completed the 19-0 run with consecutive treys from Ronnie Suggs and Scottie James, the latter giving Bradley a 24-14 lead with 7:14 left in the half.

After taking a 34-21 lead into halftime, Bradley extended its lead to as much as 14 points in the second half. Although the Braves could not pull away any farther, Maryville never really threatened down the stretch and got no closer than six, 43-37, the rest of the way.

Pittman led the Braves with 11 points, scoring in double-figures for the third consecutive game. Although Bradley played just eight players Thursday, seven scored at least seven points. After missing the previous game due to a bruised knee, Thomas contributed nine points, blocked a game-high three shots and shared team-high rebounding honors with seven boards in his return to the lineup.

Jallow led all players with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Maryville forward Marvin Grant-Clark chipped in 11 points for the Saints.

Bradley, which began the day with the second-best non-conference strength of schedule in the Missouri Valley Conference, will return to action Sunday by facing defending Mountain West Conference champion Boise State in the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge Series. Sunday's game is slated for a 12 p.m. MST tipoff from Boise State's Taco Bell Arena and the game will be televised regionally by ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain.