Braves Host Northern Iowa in MVC Home Opener

Duane Zehr

Men's Basketball 12/30/2017 9:30:00 AM

Bradley (10-4 , 0-1 MVC) vs. Northern Iowa (8-5, 0-1 MVC)
Game Details	Sunday, Dec. 31 • 1 p.m. • Peoria, Ill. • Carver Arena
Television	ESPN3
Radio	1470 WMBD
Game Notes	Bradley \| Northern Iowa
Game Coverage	Live Stats \| Twitter: @bradleyumbb \| Instagram: @bradleyumbb
Tickets	Ticketmaster \| (309) 677-2625

A battle of the two of the nation's top defenses is set for Carver Arena on Sunday as the Braves welcome Northern Iowa for a MVC matchup. The New Year's Eve contest is set to tip off at 1 p.m.

PROMOTIONS
• A two-time America's Got Talent quarterfinalist, Christian and Scooby will highlight the halftime entertainment against the Panthers.
• In Kaboom!'s Korner is a Bounce House and additional inflatables from Fun on the Run.

ABOUT THE BRAVES
• Bradley is 10-4 during the 2017-18 campaign with a 0-1 record in MVC play after falling in its opener at Drake, 66-64, on Thursday.
• Sophomore Darrell Brown leads the Braves with 13.6 points and 3.8 assists per game.
• A balanced team with eight players averaging at least five points, Nate Kennell and Donte Thomas are second and third on BU in scoring with 8.9 and 8.6 points, respectively.
• Freshman Elijah Childs leads Bradley with 6.4 rebounds, while Thomas is second at 5.8.
• BU is averaging 68.7 points, shooting 43.5 percent from the floor and 39.2 percent from 3-point range.
• The strength of the team so far is on defense where BU features the nation's 12th-ranked unit, allowing only 61.3 points per game, 38.0 percent of field goals and 29.6 percent from 3-point range.

SERIES HISTORY
• In 59 all-time meetings between the Braves and Panthers, Northern Iowa holds a slight 30-29 edge in the series.
• The series has largely been controlled by the home team with the schools combining to win 38-of-54 matchups as the host.
• Last season, both schools won on their own court. Bradley posted a 72-61 win in January to end a five-game losing streak in the series before a 64-61 setback at UNI in February.
• Luuk van Bree led the Braves versus the Panthers last year, posting 14.0 points on 61.1 percent shooting (5-9 from 3-point range).

ABOUT THE PANTHERS
• Northern Iowa is 8-5 this season with a 0-1 record in Missouri Valley Conference action.
• The Panthers have lost their last three games, falling in their final two non-conference games to Iowa State and Xavier before losing to Southern Illinois on Thursday in the Valley opener.
• Bennett Koch has keyed the team's success so far, leading UNI with 14.3 points to go with 7.5 rebounds per game.
• Klint Carlson and Juwan McCloud also chip in 9.8 points per game apiece, while McCloud leads the team with 2.3 assists per game.
• Freshman Tywhon Pickford leads the Panthers with 8.9 rebounds per game.
• Just like the Braves, UNI has relied on its defense as it allows only 60.2 points per game, while scoring 67.3 points on the offensive end.

CARVER STREAKING
• Bradley puts its undefeated home record on the line against Northern Iowa on Sunday as the Braves have opened the 2017-18 season a perfect 6-0 at Carver Arena.
• In fact, the Braves secured their first unblemished home mark in non-conference play for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
• Overall, Bradley has won its last eight home games dating back to last season, its longest winning streak at Carver Arena since a 15-game run in 2006.

BATTLE OF NCAA'S TOP-15 DEFENSES
• Don't expect a lot of points in Sunday's game as the matchup features two of the nation's best defensive units.
• Northern Iowa enters the game with the NCAA's sixth-ranked unit – allowing 60.2 points per game – while the Braves rank 12th at 61.3 points.
• The Braves also place in the top 20 in both field goal percentage defense (15th at 37.6%) and 3-point defense (20th at 29.1%).

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
• Sophomore Darrell Brown has continued to shine as the Braves top offensive threat, whether he is the team's go-to scorer or setting up others.
• Brown leads BU with 13.6 points and 3.8 assists per game during the 2017-18 season.
• Brown has scored in double figures in 13-of-14 games this year, while also leading the team in assists or tied for the team lead 11 times.
• The sophomore is one of only two players in the MVC to lead his team in both scoring and assists (Indiana State's Jordan Barnes is the other).
• Brown has scored in double figures in each of the last eight games – the longest streak by a Brave since Walt Lemon had a 20-game run in 2013-14 and the second-longest active streak in the MVC (Illinois State's Phil Fayne has a 12-game run).

FRONT RUNNERS
• The first half has been key for the Braves this season and has largely determined BU outcomes.
• In its 10 wins, Bradley has outscored opponents by 10.9 points in the first and led at the intermission of every game, going 10-1 with the halftime edge.
• However, Bradley is 0-3 this year when trailing or tied at the half and in its four losses, BU has been outscored by 7.0 points in the opening stanza.
• The Braves are also 0-3 this year when allowing 30 or more points in the first half and 10-1 when holding teams to fewer than 30.

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