SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Bradley freshman Josh Cunningham turned in 15 points and 21 rebounds, but it was not enough to prevent host Missouri State 11-18, 5-12 MVC) from pulling out an 80-77 Missouri Valley Conference win in triple overtime Wednesday night at JQH Arena.

The game was just the third game in Bradley history to go at least three overtimes and was the team's longest game since the NCAA record seven overtimes against Cincinnati Dec. 21, 1981 at Robertson Fieldhouse.

On a night that Cunningham passed the NBA's Danny Granger for the second-best freshman season rebounding total in Bradley history, Cunnnigham's 21 boards surpassed Granger's 20 rebounds Nov. 22, 2002 against Pepperdine and at least matched the most by a Brave since Joe Strawder corralled 22 boards versus Northern Michigan Feb. 29, 1964 (Bradley's top 10 single-game records ends with four 22-rebound efforts).  Cunningham's 11 offensive rebounds also matched the best single-game total on record in Bradley history.

Point guard Tramique Sutherland scored a career-best 20 points to pace the Braves, while Warren Jones added 16 points off the bench. Austin Ruder led the Bears wtih 20 points, while Christian Kirk added 16 and Chris Kendrix 14.

Bradley, which trailed by as many as 14 midway through the first half, faced a 32-19 deficit after two Austin Ruder free throws with 1:23 left in the period, but Sutherland scored the last four points of the half, including a transition layup at the buzzer to give the Braves some momentum heading into the lockerroom.

Trailing 32-23 at halftime, Bradley started the second half with an 13-4 surge, pulling even, 36-36 on a Sutherland 3-pointer with 14:04 left. The lead changed hands four times from that point and Bradley twice pulled even, the last time on a Sutherland left-handed layup with 22 seconds left. The Braves point guard forced a turnover on Missouri State's ensuing possession and got a decent look at a potential game-winner at the end of regulation.

Missouri State made just 5-of-21 (.238) field goal attempts in the second half. Both teams had 0-for-2 trips to the free throw line late in the first overtime.

The Braves took their largest lead of the game by starting the second overtime period with a 7-0 run. Missouri State answered with an 8-1 run, pulling even on a Thurman corner trey, before Sutherland's free throw with 57.7 second left put Bradley back in front. After a Missouri State turnover, Sutherland hit two more free throws with 32.2 seconds left for a 69-66 Bradley lead, but after Ka'Darryl Bell missed two free throws with 14.9 seconds left, Ruder buried a wing trey to force the third overtime.

Ruder gave Missouri State the lead, 72-69, by burying a deep 3-pointer with 3:58 left. Cunningham got two offensive rebounds on the same possession, ultimately leading to Jones making 2-of-3 free throws. Cunningham then made two FTs of his own for a 73-72 Bradley lead with 2:28 left.

After Missouri State tied it again by splitting 2 free throws, Roundtree picked Bell's pocket and converted a 3-point play for 76-73 lead with 1:53 left and two Gerring free throws with 15.5 seconds left for an 80-75 Bears lead sealed it.

Bradley will close out the regular season Saturday afternoon, hosting Valley rival Indiana State in a 1 p.m. game at Carver Arena. Senior forward Auston Barnes will play his final home game as a Brave Saturday and will be honored in a pregame ceremony. In addition, the first 400 students will receive free t-shirts, courtesy of the Red Sea, as well as Kaboom! heads on a stick, presented by SONOR.

The Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2015 -- 1998 women's cross country team and soccer players Adam Gross and Brian Remedi -- will be enshrined at halftime Saturday. The drawing for the Braves Club Raffle, presented by Southside Trust and Savings Bank, also will take place at halftime with $42,500 in cash prizes to be awarded.