Braves Face Weber State in Bahamas Finale

Bob Hunt - Photographer

Men's Basketball 11/18/2017 9:23:00 PM

Bradley (3-1) vs. Weber State (3-1)
Game Details	Sunday, Nov. 19 • 1 p.m. CT • Nassau, Bahamas • Kendal Isaacs Gym
Webcast	FloHoops
Radio	1470 WMBD
Game Notes	Bradley
Game Coverage	Live Stats \| Twitter: @bradleyumbb \| Instagram: @bradleyumbb

The Bradley men's basketball team looks to finish the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase with a second-straight win, meeting Weber State for fifth place on Sunday. First tip is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.

BAHAMAS SHOWCASE
• Bradley plays Weber State for fifth place on Sunday at the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase.
• The Braves are attempting to win two neutral-site games at a regular-season tournament for the first time since finishing fifth at the 2002 Rainbow Classic in Hawaii.

ABOUT THE BRAVES
• Bradley is 3-1 during the 2017-18 campaign, while splitting its first two contests in the Bahamas.
• The Braves opened the tournament with a one-point loss to Vermont, 65-64, before a two-point victory versus UTSA, 71-69. Both games were decided in the final three seconds.
• Senior Donte Thomas leads the Braves with 12.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game during the 2017-18 campaign. Sophomore Darrell Brown has scored in double figures of all four games and is second on the team with 11.8 points per game.
• Junior Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye leads the Braves with 3.0 assists, while ranking second with 7.0 boards per game.
• Bradley is averaging 66.0 points per game, shooting 42.1 percent from the floor with a 44.6 percent clip from 3-point range.
• The strength of the team so far is on defense where BU is allowing only 60.0 points, 36.7 field goal percentage and 25.0 percent 3-pointers.

SERIES HISTORY
• The Braves and Wildcats have met on one previous occasion at the 2001 Dr. Pepper Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Weber State opened on a 13-2 run and never looked back to earn a 68-46 win 16 years ago.

BRAVES VERSUS BIG SKY
• Bradley is 17-3 all-time against current members of the Big Sky Conference.
• The Braves last faced a team from the conference during the 2015-16 campaign when North Dakota earned a 65-59 double overtime victory over BU.

ABOUT THE WILDCATS
• Just like Bradley, Weber State won its first two games of the season before splitting its two Islands of the Bahamas Showcase contests.
• Weber State fell in the opener to Iona, 80-72, before a 73-65 win against James Madison.
• Jerrick Harding leads the team with 19.3 points per game, while Ryan Richardson isn't far behind at 16.5 points per game.
• Zach Braxton is third with 13.8 points, while also posting a team-leading 9.0 boards.
• The Wildcats are now averaging 80.0 points per game, shooting 51.6 percent from the field.

MAKING YOU SWEAT
• Bradley's first two games of the tournament were decided by three combined points.
• It marks the first time since 2014-15 against Wichita State (loss by 3) and Evansville (won by three) that Bradley had two-straight games decided by one possession.
• It also marks the first time two-consecutive contests were decided by two or fewer points since 2012-13, when losing to Virginia Tech by one and Portland by 2.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP
• The key behind the Braves' victory on Saturday was the senior duo of Donte Thomas and JoJo McGlaston.
• The seniors combined 33 points on 10-20 shooting (50 percent) to go with 12 made free throws. The rest of team scored 38 points on 13-of-30 shooting (43.3 percent).
• Thomas, especially is making his senior season count as he leads the Braves with 12.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

3-POINT DIFFERENCE
• The Braves have dominated both ends of the 3-point line this season.
• Bradley has converted 44.6 of its 3-point attempts, ranking 29th nationally.
• On the other end, the Braves have allowed their opponent to make only 25.0 percent of their chances, the 32nd best mark in the country.
• Bradley is one of only two schools in the nation to rank in the top 40 of 3-point offense and defense, joining Temple (31st and 32nd).
• No team has shot better than 30 percent against the Braves from beyond the arc, while Bradley has made at least 40 percent in 3-of-4 contests.

PICK YOUR 3-POINT POISON
• The real key to the Braves' 3-point offensive success is the amount of weapons the team has.
• Bradley features five players who are making at least 40 percent of their treys this year.
• Last season, only Nate Kennell finished above 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.

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